Knoxville earns Tree Cities of the World recognition
March 7, 2021

KNOXVILLE - Knoxville is one of just 38 U.S. cities – and one of 120 worldwide, from 63 countries – to earn Tree Cities of the World recognition.

Knoxville’s urban forestry programs are now part of the global network recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

“Years ago, I proudly plastered a ‘Trees Are the Answer’ bumper sticker on my first car,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said. “That was true then, and it’s even more evident now. “Trees help property owners lower their utility costs. They strengthen communities’ resilience. Trees are the cheapest way to combat climate change. And just appreciating their aesthetic value, their beauty gives us joy year-round.”

To receive recognition, a town or city must meet five core standards:

• Establish Responsibility - The city has a written statement by city leaders delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens—called a Tree Board.
• Set the Rules - The city has in place a law or an official policy that governs the management of forests and trees. These rules describe how work must be performed—often citing best practices or industry standards for tree care and worker safety—where and when they apply, and penalties for noncompliance.
• Know What You Have - The city has an updated inventory or assessment of the local tree resource so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city trees can be established.
• Allocate the Resources - The city has a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of the tree management plan.
• Celebrate Achievements - The city holds an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among residents and to acknowledge citizens and staff members who carry out the city tree programme.

Visit www.treecitiesoftheworld.org to see a list of other recognized cities. Criteria for recognition includes maintaining an inventory of public trees, committing funding to nurture and protect an urban forest, and celebrating achievements that strengthen the diversity and number of trees.

Tree Cities of the World communities have planted more than 23 million trees and invested 618,000 volunteer hours.

Knoxville has been a Tree City USA Award honoree for 29 consecutive years. In 2020, City crews under the direction of Urban Forester Kasey Krouse planted 785 trees in parks, at schools and in public rights-of-way. The City boasts more than 30,000 trees planted in public spaces.