Treasure Coast Sun

Port St. Lucie, a city known for its dedication to maintaining a thriving urban forest landscape, has once again received national and international recognition for its efforts. The city has been awarded the Tree City USA Award for the 19th consecutive year, as well as the Tree City USA Growth Award for the 18th year in a row. Additionally, Port St. Lucie has been designated as one of only 170 Tree Cities of the World for the second consecutive year.

The Tree City USA Award and the Tree City USA Growth Award are given to cities that demonstrate effective urban forest management and a commitment to municipal tree programs. These awards are a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation, USDA Forest Service, and National Association of State Foresters. The Tree Cities of the World designation is a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Arbor Day Foundation.

Shereese Snagg, the Keep Port St. Lucie Project Coordinator, expressed her pride in receiving these prestigious recognitions. She stated, "We are demonstrating that Port St. Lucie is dedicated to ensuring our community benefits from upholding a high quality of care, cleaner air, education, and overall better quality of life."

To receive these designations, the City of Port St. Lucie had to meet five core standards, including establishing responsibility for the care of trees, setting rules for managing trees, having an updated inventory of local tree resources, allocating resources for tree management, and celebrating achievements for trees.

The city's commitment to maintaining a vibrant treescape is evident in its various initiatives. The Port St. Lucie Tree Challenge has led to the planting of over 75,000 trees, while the Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful Tree Giveaway program has distributed approximately 14,000 trees since 2004.

In 2023, the city's urban forestry efforts received a significant boost when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service awarded Port St. Lucie $1 million. These funds will be used to expand and enhance the city's urban forestry program over the next four years. The focus will be on planting trees along transportation corridors, at key development sites, and on private property to increase urban canopy cover. The locations for tree planting will be determined based on criteria set forth in the grant. This project aims to reduce carbon emissions, increase resilience, cool temperatures, improve pedestrian opportunities, enhance public safety, and create other significant benefits from trees.

Port St. Lucie's commitment to its urban forest landscape has been recognized both nationally and internationally. The city's efforts in maintaining a healthy and sustainable tree population contribute to a higher quality of life for its residents. As the city continues to prioritize its urban forestry program, it sets an example for other communities to follow in creating greener and more sustainable environments.