Charlottesville Tree Canopy Assessment

The Charlottesville Tree Canopy Assessment mapped urban tree canopy (UTC), possible planting area (PPA), and tree canopy changes from 2014 to 2018 and analyzed how they are distributed throughout the City and its property ownership, parcels, planning neighborhoods, and right-of-way. The results, based on 2018 and 2014 imagery from the USDA’s National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP), provide a current and historical look at land cover in Charlottesville and will allow the City to revise and develop existing and new strategies to protect and expand the urban forest.

In 2018, Charlottesville had 40% urban tree canopy cover and 22% possible planting area. The 2,771 acres of tree canopy in Charlottesville provide a multitude of economic, environmental, and social benefits, valued at just under $15 million annually. This study found that canopy cover changed from 45 to 40% from 2014 to 2018 (-5% or 381 acres) using the current city boundary. Private lands saw a 7% decrease while canopy on public lands decreased in canopy by 3%. Canopy cover within the CRHA (Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority) decreased by 5%. The overall decrease is due, in part, to the City’s stream restoration and Meadow Creek Interceptor projects, as well as development within several neighborhoods throughout the City.