Rooted in Community: Taking Action to Grow and Preserve Our Urban Forest

City of Virginia Beach is working to grow canopy coverage to 45%.

Virginia Beach is actively working to increase its tree canopy through a combination of planting, preservation, maintenance and public policy. The goal? To grow the city’s tree canopy coverage from 40% to 45% by 2045. Here’s the approach the City is taking to grow and nurture a thriving canopy and ways you can help.

Caring for What We Have

Proactive tree care is essential to preserving our existing canopy. The Park & Landscape Services division of Parks & Recreation has dramatically expanded its neighborhood pruning program — pruning 6,889 trees this fiscal year, a remarkable 400% increase from the previous year. This work not only maintains tree health, but also extends their lifespan and community benefits.

At historic sites like the Francis Land House, the City has installed lightning protection on two significant trees — a sycamore and a pecan — and are aerating the roots of the iconic cherry tree promenade at Red Wing Park to promote long-term vitality.

In Courthouse Estates, Park & Landscape Services collaborated with Public Works to protect tree roots during sidewalk repairs by using Flexipave, a porous, flexible material that allows water and root growth while preventing cracking – unlike traditional concrete.

Expanding Our Canopy

The City of Virginia Beach is committed to planting new trees in public spaces, especially in areas most affected by urban heat. With support from the Coastal Resilience & Tree Fund and Dominion Energy, the City is replacing tree losses from the Offshore Wind project and increasing overall canopy coverage.

Since 2021, more than 4,500 new trees have been planted — many in neighborhoods experiencing higher temperatures and fewer trees.

Planning with Purpose

Urban forestry in Virginia Beach is guided by forward-thinking policies. City Code requires minimum tree coverage on residential lots, mandates tree planting within public rights-of-way as part of new developments and requires planting trees in parking lots.

To guide these efforts, the City is developing its fourth canopy study to identify gaps and guide future planting. Virginia Beach is also using a GIS-based tool — VB Trees — which tracks over 22,000 public trees and supports strategic planning. This tool recently earned the Best New Environmental Sustainability award from the Virginia Recreation and Park Society.

Recognized Leadership

Virginia Beach was once again named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation — its 45th consecutive year receiving the honor. The City also earned the Foundation’s Growth Award for its exceptional commitment to tree care and community engagement.

In a national context, the nonprofit American Forests ranks Virginia Beach highest among Hampton Roads cities in Tree Equity — meaning our tree canopy is more equitably distributed across neighborhoods.

Virginia Beach is also a leader in youth tree education. Through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus K-12 program, three schools have already earned the designation: Corporate Landing Elementary, Corporate Landing Middle and Thalia Elementary. Five more schools are applying this year. If successful, Virginia Beach will lead the nation in the number of K-12 Tree Campuses.

How You Can Help

Plant Native Trees at Home
Native species thrive in our climate, require less maintenance, and support local ecosystems. The Virginia Department of Forestry’s Throwing Shade VA program offers a $25 discount on eligible native trees valued at $50 or more. From March 1 to May 1, simply visit a participating nursery, select a tagged tree, and scan the QR code to redeem your discount.

Get Involved Through Your School or Organization
The Virginia Beach Master Gardener Tree Stewards, in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, offer a Legacy Tree Planting Grant to support nonprofits and schools. Grant funds can be used to plant trees across the city, helping to grow our canopy one tree at a time.

Learn More
Explore the VB Trees interactive map to monitor your neighborhood’s trees and health, and learn more about the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan at Parks.VirginiaBeach.gov/UrbanForestry.

Trees are foundational to healthy, resilient communities — offering cleaner air, cooler streets, reduced flooding, community well-being, and a stronger local economy. Virginia Beach’s data-informed, inclusive approach — planting thousands of trees, enabling native species, and empowering residents — exemplifies stewardship and growth.

Our canopy's future is ours to grow.