WELCOME TO OUR FORESTRY DIVISION
NEW: View the Urban Forest Master Plan HERE!
Our Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining approximately 35,000 street trees on 450 miles of city streets and for park trees throughout the parks system. This Division provides a continuous program of tree planting, trimming and removal of City street trees in order to maintain a healthy and abundant tree population. Routine trimming and removals are done year round, and tree planting is done during the spring and fall.
To report a city tree problem such as a downed or hanging limb, dead/dying/diseased tree, or a routine trimming request please call 448-CITY (2489) for an inspection or click here to report it online.
City of Syracuse Arborist: Steve Harris, (315) 473-4330 Ext. 3014 Please note, per city ordinance, no person shall trim or remove any tree in the city right of way without a written permit from the City Arborist. Tree planting shall not take place in the city right of way or public space without a written permit from the City Arborist. This applies to all property owner, developers and utilities. For more information or to obtain a permit contact (315) 473-4330.
INTRODUCTION
It’s been 20 years since the Labor Day Storm of 1998 that devastated Syracuse's urban forest, toppling thousands of trees across the City. Despite
efforts to bring back trees that were lost, Syracuse’s tree canopy
cover (27%) remais relatively unchanged and below
the average of 34% for cities east of the Mississippi River. ReLeaf Syracuse is an initiative to increase and sustain tree canopy in the City for the future.
PUBLIC INPUTIn summer of 2018, led by the Syracuse Parks Department, Onondaga Earth Corps and a steering committee representing community organizations, business and government agencies, ReLeaf Syracuse conducted a public input process surveying over 1,000 people and holding eight (8) public meetings to gather input on how we should manage our urban forest.
CLICK HERE to read the Public Input Process Final Report and learn what people think about trees in Syracuse. The results informed the goals and strategies outlined in the Master Plan.
ABOUT THE MASTER PLANThe urban forest master plan
provides a roadmap to a healthy, safe and expanding tree canopy in the
city. The plan contains definable and measurable 5-year and 20-year
goals. A critical part of the initiative is to build on and expand
partnerships to implement what is proposed in the plan.
Once complete the new master plan for
trees in the city will be used to inform and update the city’s municipal
tree ordinance which was last modified in 1981.
January 2020: Release Draft Master Plan
May 2020: Final Plan Adopted by Common Council
August 2020: Draft Municipal Tree Ordinance Released
December 2020: Final Municipal Tree Ordinance Submitted to Common Council for adoption
ORIGINReLeaf
Syracuse was the name of the steering committee formed by Mayor Roy
Bernardi to develop a response plan after the devastating loss of trees
following the Labor Day Storm of 1998. The committee disbanded in 2001
however, the spirit of that effort and the master plan that was
developed after the storm remains the today through community
stewardship and youth employment programs dedicated to the planting and
care of trees.
