Tree Canopy

Definition

Percent of land with tree canopy cover

Why is it Important?

Trees provide tremendous benefits by reducing energy use, treating stormwater, improving air quality, fighting climate change, reducing stress, and increasing property value for homes and businesses.  By shading buildings in the summer and blocking wind in the winter, trees help reduce energy use. Trees reduce stormwater runoff and erosion by slowing and intercepting rainfall with leaves and branches and increasing absorption of stormwater in the ground. They improve air quality by absorbing pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide and producing oxygen. Trees fight climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and sequestering carbon. Trees increase property value of homes by as much as 15 percent and shoppers are more likely to visit and spend more money at stores in areas with high quality tree canopy.²

This indicator measures the percent of land in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County with tree canopy coverage.

How are we Doing?

Tree canopy coverage for the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County is 39.0 percent.³ When compared separately, the tree canopy in St. Louis County is higher, 41.7 percent, while 18 percent of the land in the City of St. Louis has coverage. For tree canopy maps by parcel, land use, municipality, and more, visit StLouisData.org.

Geographic Level

St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis (data for additional areas within the eight county region will be added if it becomes available)

Notes

¹Donovan, Geoffrey et al. The Relationship Between Trees and Human Health. Am J Prev Med 2013; 44(2):139 –145. Accessed on 14 January 2014 at http://www.ajpmonline.org/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE_3662-stamped_Jan_8.pdf

²Wolf, Kathleen. Local Economics, 25 June 2010; accessed on 4 February 2014 at http://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/Thm_Economics.html

³Tree canopy is collected using aerial photography. Due to the expense of collecting the data, it is not available for the entire region and is not updated on a regular basis.

Data Sources

Forest ReLeaf of Missouri