Los Angeles 1 Million Tree Canopy Cover Assessment

The Million Trees LA initiative intends to chart a course for sustainable growth through planting and stewardship of trees. This study measures LA's existing tree canopy cover (TCC), determines if space exists for 1 million additional trees, and estimates future benefits from the planting. Benefits were forecast for planting of 1 million trees between 2006 and 2010, and their growth and mortality were projected until 2040. LA's existing TCC was 21%. There is potential to add 2.5 million additional trees to the existing population of 10.8 million, but only 1.3 million of the potential tree sites are deemed realistic to plant. Thus, there is space for planting 1 million new trees. Benefits for the 1-million-tree planting were between $1.33 band $1.95 billion.