HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree AwardContact: Giovanna Contreras, Communications Intern
Phone 952-826-0347 • commintern@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NextGen Trees Initiative Recognized by U.S. Conference of Mayors
Edina, Minn., June. 18, 2024 – Edina’s NextGen Trees initiative to plant 1,000 trees in the community has received some national recognition.
The United States Conference of Mayors’ Mayors Climate Protection Center recently acknowledged Mayor Jim Hovland for the NextGen Trees initiative for the small city honorable mentions
category. Hovland was recognized this week at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 92nd Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Mo.
The Mayors Climate Protection Center awards 13 U.S. mayors for their outstanding leadership in combatting the effects of climate change as it becomes more impactful on cities among the
nation, each winning a 2024 Mayors’ Climate Protection Award. These annual mayoral awards are specifically recognizing innovative local climate action.
The NextGen Trees initiative, implemented by City Forester Luther Overholt, used $250,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to plant trees in areas with lower tree density to
help improve climate, health and tree equity.
“What makes NextGen Trees innovative is not the planting of trees itself. What makes NextGen Trees different from other tree-planting initiatives is that it is equity-centered and forward-thinking
– it is planting a tree canopy ready for Edina’s future climate, not the climate of the past,” said Sustainability Specialist Matthew Gabb.
According to U.S. Forest Service research, trees can save energy and money by shading buildings and reducing the need for air conditioning, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding and
improving air quality by absorbing air pollution, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Leveraging tree canopy, demographic and climate data, the City identified a correlation between many lower tree density areas and affordable housing locations. Edina centered its approach
based on the City’s values around sustainability, health and equity by planting climate-adaptive trees such as oaks, redbud, tamarack and white pine, preparing its tree canopy for the
climate we are projected to have in the coming decades.
Edina’s GIS team created an interactive dashboard that reports the number, location and species of trees planted, along with data layers like affordable housing locations, race and ethnicity,
extreme heat and overall tree canopy. To learn more, visit bit.ly/EdinaGIS.
NextGen’s trees are the first step in making sure Edina’s tree canopy keeps residents and visitors shaded, safe and healthy in the heat.
For more information on the NextGen Trees Initiative, visit Edinamn.gov/1930/Trees---NextGen-Trees.
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