Description: Chicago Region Trees Initiative views trees as part of the city’s critical infrastructure. It has developed a Master Plan through 2050 to assure that “trees are healthier, more abundant, more diverse, and more equitably distributed.” Currently, trees in the Chicago region sequester and store 17 million tons of carbon, reduce the effect of the heat island, and save $44 million in building energy usage yearly, according to the plan.

Goal: Chicago Master Tree Plan: Implement strategic plan across public & private land to enlarge the tree canopy region