Certain neighborhoods such as the West Village in New York City are well known for their tree-lined streets. However, did you know that there are many trees in NYC in other parts of the city? New York City is currently home to around 883,267 trees. While most of these trees are located in Brooklyn and Queens, Manhattan itself is home to around 96,596 trees alone! 

Trees are an important part of the city. They are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and creating oxygen. Additionally, they are beneficial for the human body, the environment, and even increase property value. Want to learn more about the trees in our concrete jungle of a city? You’ll want to check out the NYC Tree Map to find the trees in your neighborhood! 

What is the NYC Tree Map

The NYC Tree Map is an interactive and living tree map launched by NYC Parks at the end of 2022. The current map shows trees individually managed by NYC Parks in New York City, from those lining streets to those growing in landscaped areas of parks. 

Trees in NYC Tree Map

Data shown on the map came from the work of thousands of volunteers during the city’s routine tree census surveys which take place every ten years. Just like the human census! Volunteers at the city’s TreesCount!2015 event, the third participatory inventory of NYC’s urban trees since 1995, worked to collect the data to create the NYC Tree Map.

As you may have gathered, the city has been gathering data on its trees for quite some time. This data, while public, wasn’t displayed in a map like the one we have access to today. Instead, the city used the data collected during the tree census events to come up with actions it could take to maintain its collection of trees. Programs such as the block pruning tree maintenance program or the MillionTreesNYC initiative were started as a direct response to the data collected during these events. 

Why do people consider trees important enough to track?

Trees are an essential part of our city. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air and in return provide our residents with fresh oxygen. Additionally, trees have the following additional benefits. 

Human health and well being

Not only do trees create oxygen, which is required for the human body to live. But studies have shown that exposure to trees and green spaces can help reduce stress, anxiety, and even depression. Trees can even act as a filter for many pollutants in the air, meaning cleaner air for everyone to breathe. 

Environmental benefits

Trees are important for regulating climate. The process of absorbing carbon dioxide note only create oxygen for humans but also means reducing a major greenhouse gas. Additionally, trees often provide valuable sources of shade, which help to reduce energy costs and additional emissions. 

The roots of trees are also important for not only cleansing the water but for binding soil and decreasing the effects of erosion from stormwater and preventing floods. Finally, trees are a great source of shelter and food for many different animals, insects, and microorganisms. All which can be beneficial for the city. 

Property valuation benefits

If the wellbeing of NYC residents and the environment doesn’t sway you. Just know that trees can also have a direct impact on property value! Studies show that homes with trees are often more valuable than comparable homes. They add to curb appeal for prospective tenants and buyers of a home and can even help save on energy costs in the long run for tenants and homeowners. 

All that being said, trees are extremely necessary and beneficial for the city. Indeed, over the years, the city estimates that NYC street trees add about $151.2 million in benefits. As a result of these benefits, in November of 2021, the City Council signed Local Law 20 of 2021 which required NYC Parks to “Maintain a regularly updated map on its website that displays each tree that was inspected, the result of such inspection and the action taken by the Parks in response to the result of such inspection.” Today, anyone can go on the NYC Tree Map and browse recent inspections and tree work for each individual tree. 

How to use the NYC Tree Map

The NYC Tree Map that launched in 2022 combines the NYC street tree map with the NYC parks tree map so that users can browse both street trees and trees located in NYC’s many public parks. Users can zoom into boroughs and neighborhoods and view the overall count of trees in an area. Or zoom in further to locate individual trees and learn about its species, size, recent care, inspection history, and even request service for the tree. Even more fun, users can learn about each individual tree’s estimated ecological benefits. The U.S. Forest Service has formulas which can calculate the benefit. Or, they can nominate a specific tree, as a great tree!

If you’ve been taking care of a particular tree on your block or in your neighborhood. Then be sure to “Record your care” following each of your actions. NYC Parks will record your work and use the data to both the agency and the public with more information about the tree(s) you’ve been helping. To get even more involved, consider becoming a steward by simply signing up for volunteer events in your area! NYC Parks hosts plenty of these events and its a great way to get involved with your community as well. 

Help with the NYC Tree Map

Finally, if all of this talk of the NYC Tree Map has you excited about the future of the program and its data collection process, then you’re in luck. NYC Parks is hosting its fourth participatory Trees Count 2025 event. Since this event only occurs every ten years, you have to sign up now or miss out on the current opportunity. NYC Parks will teach volunteers everything they need to know to count trees. So you don’t need experience to sign up. You’ll likely be counting trees for one to two hours so just be prepared to walk around a bit. The efforts of your hard work will be utilized across the city for generations to come.