New ‘Louisville Tree Plan’ aimed at reversing decline of city’s tree canopy in more neighborhoods | News from WDRB [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — City officials unveiled a new plan Thursday aimed at reversing a decline in Louisville’s tree canopy.

The Louisville Tree Plan is a “comprehensive urban forest master plan” in partnership with Metro Government and Trees Louisville.

In 2015, researchers found that the city’s tree canopy was rapidly declining. The city has taken major steps to increase planting since then, and an updated assessment in 2022 had “encouraging findings.” But individual neighborhoods have seen a continued decline.

The new tree plan is aimed at reversing that trend.

“All of the work that we are going to do will set tangible, achievable goals that will really mean something to this community, and it will spur action as the plan gets implemented,” said Cindi Sullivan, executive director of Trees Louisville.

The announcement comes roughly two weeks ahead of the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration, TreeFest. It’s happening April 13 at Petersburg Park. It features live …