A web page and tracking tool will help officials and residents track the progress of the program. Participating agencies include the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Information Technology Services, according to a statement.
The state hopes to reach that 25 million mark by 2033.
The idea is to boost “statewide sustainability” and reforestation while reducing the power of heat waves and provide more protection against severe weather.
The tool enables the reporting of tree planting locations along with such data as planting dates and tree species and sizes. The web page provides an “interactive map of planting projects across New York state,” according to the statement, along with a count of trees planted by region, county and city.
As of Thursday afternoon, Feb. 13, the tracker showed more than 128,000 planted trees, including nearly 6,000 in disadvantaged communities. The majority of the total plantings — about 83,000 — had taken place in the state’s southern tier, which is along the Pennsylvania border.
“New York is taking decisive action to protect our environment and strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe weather,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in the statement. “Our progress toward the 25 million tree goal is a testament to the power of community-driven action, and the new Tree Tracker will make it easier for New Yorkers to track our progress, share updates and contribute to a healthier environment for the future.”
The program was officially announced in Hochul’s 2024 State of the State address and is receiving at least $47 million in funding.
The program is the latest example of how technology is helping state and other governments better deal with climate and environmental problems, including natural disasters and even urban forestry.
