Urban Forest Master Plan
Urban Forest Master Plan
The City of Asheville is working on an Urban Forest Master Plan that will bring the community together to learn and share ideas about our urban forest. Trees and tree canopy play a critical role in all communities by reducing heat, improving water and air quality, stabilizing slopes, providing food and forage for wildlife and humans, and adding to quality of life for everyone. The Urban Forest Master Plan will provide a roadmap of community-influenced recommendations to support a sustainable, resilient urban forest that thrives into the future.
Urban Forest Master Plan Arbor Day Public Workshop
Please note: this event is at capacity. Registration is now closed.
This session is designed as a facilitated in-person workshop with small-group activities. We'll cover some basic information on urban forestry, and participants will be asked to share their insights on the important roles that trees play in their lives. The feedback shared will be used to inform recommendations for tree canopy management for the next 20-plus years, as part of Asheville's first ever Urban Forestry Plan.
Registration for this event is closed.
Happening Now
Engagement is underway for the Urban Forest Master Plan! Have you taken the survey? Your feedback will help to shape the recommendations for Asheville's first management plan for urban trees.
A public workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at the NC Arboretum. This session is designed as a facilitated in-person workshop with small-group activities. View the registration page for details.
A stakeholder workshop #1 engagement summary is available for the public to review. You can also access all of the questions and comments that were discussed at the February 20 stakeholder workshop. Share your perspective on the topics discussed by emailing comments to avltrees@publicinput.com.
Ways to Participate
Community input is an important part of this project. There are several ways to share your perspective:
- Attend a Public Meeting or Workshop
Some engagement events are designed as in-person workshops with facilitated small-group discussions, while others are fully hybrid or virtual to enable broader access. - Complete the Online Survey
An online survey is available for community members who prefer to provide input digitally. - Submit Written Comments
Community members are welcome to send comments or questions at any time during the engagement process to avltrees@publicinput.com. - Review Meeting Recordings and Engagement Summaries
After in-person public workshops, summaries of community feedback will be published so residents can review what was heard and share additional perspectives if something important may be missing. - Host us at your group's next gathering
The City's Urban Forester is available to present at your next community meeting or gathering. Simply submit a "road show request form" and we will contact you.
Our goal is to provide multiple ways for community members to participate throughout the process.
Stay up to date on the latest news from this project. Subscribe for email and/or text alerts in the box at the top of this page.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeseWA-gFywcQF_3SP8gb4455FeO5PBhqcJBW1nC-rUadnocw/viewform
Access the recording of our public information session with Urban Canopy Works on January 28, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
An urban forest refers to all the trees in a city's boundary, whether they are in a city owned park, a privately owned home, or anywhere else. The amount of land shaded by trees is referred to as the tree canopy. In Asheville, tree canopy was measured at 44.5% in 2019. This project includes a study that will measure current canopy coverage.
An Urban Forest Master Plan is a strategic plan to improve a community's urban forest. The plan is created by assessing the current health and distribution of Asheville's trees and by engaging with residents, stakeholders, and the community at large to determine needs, set goals, and provide recommendations for the steps needed to achieve those goals.
In 2019, the City of Asheville completed a study of its tree canopy and discovered that the tree canopy that shades the community has decreased by 6.4% in the last decade. Canopy is currently measured at 44.5%. This report was a call to action for Asheville residents who were concerned about continued losses. On June 11, 2024, City Council approved a contract with Urban Canopy Works, LLC, to develop an Urban Forest Master Plan to help the city expand and improve its urban forest.
Urban Forest Master Plan Virtual Public Meeting
The City of Asheville is developing an Urban Forest Master Plan. All are welcome to attend this virtual meeting, hear about what the plan is and what it can do for Asheville's trees, and share your priorities and concerns. Registration is required. You will receive an email with the link to join the virtual meeting 1 hour before the event.
A recording of this information session will be posted to the project page following the event.
Thanks for your interest! Registration is closed because the event has concluded.
Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow- Sierra Club
Sponsored by the Sierra Club. See the event registration page for more information.
The Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow is an opportunity to hear about the project and provide feedback. We will come to your meeting to explain the UFMP process and what we know so far, and take your comments, questions, and concerns to include with all the public feedback we are collecting about our urban forest and your priorities. If you'd like to schedule us to come to your meeting, please contact us at avltrees@publicinput.com
Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow- Rhododendron Creek/Horney Heights Community Association
The Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow is an opportunity to hear about the project and provide feedback. We will come to your meeting to explain the UFMP process and what we know so far, and take your comments, questions, and concerns to include with all the public feedback we are collecting about our urban forest and your priorities. If you'd like to schedule us to come to your meeting, please contact us at avltrees@publicinput.com
Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow- Bee City USA
The Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow is an opportunity to hear about the project and provide feedback. We will come to your meeting to explain the UFMP process and what we know so far, and take your comments, questions, and concerns to include with all the public feedback we are collecting about our urban forest and your priorities. If you'd like to schedule us to come to your meeting, please contact us at avltrees@publicinput.com
Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow- Asheville Garden Club
The Urban Forest Master Plan Roadshow is an opportunity to hear about the project and provide feedback. We will come to your meeting to explain the UFMP process and what we know so far, and take your comments, questions, and concerns to include with all the public feedback we are collecting about our urban forest and your priorities. If you'd like to schedule us to come to your meeting, please contact us at avltrees@publicinput.com