What Is Casey Trees' Tree Canopy Goal for Washington, DC?

Casey Trees aims to bring Washington, DC's tree canopy to 40% coverage by 2032. The organization started from a baseline of 35% canopy coverage in 2001 and reports having planted more than 60,000 trees since then in pursuit of that goal. The target applies to the national capital region, where Casey Trees plants, cares for, and protects trees through its programs and community partnerships.

The goal at a glance

Why the 40% figure matters

Tree canopy percentage measures how much of a city's surface is covered by the leaves and branches of trees when viewed from above. Moving from 35% to 40% is a meaningful shift because canopy is lost over time to development, disease, and age, so a net gain requires planting and long-term care, not just one-time planting events.

Casey Trees frames the goal around the benefits canopy provides: trees absorb pollution, cool neighborhoods, beautify streets, release oxygen, and help combat climate change. The organization describes its programs as a way to secure environmental, health, and economic benefits for future generations.

How Casey Trees pursues the goal

The organization groups its work into five program areas, each contributing to canopy growth or protection:

• Plant — tree planting for homes, schools, parks, and businesses, done in partnership with certified arborists to support tree health, growth, and longevity.
• Educate — school programs, planting events, and outdoor exploration aimed at building the next generation of tree advocates.
• Advocate — more than 20 years of policy work that Casey Trees says has produced some of the strongest tree protections among major US cities.
• Conserve — land conservation that protects green spaces, restores fragmented forests, and improves ecosystems.
• Care — ongoing maintenance of planted trees, which matters because survival and growth rates determine whether canopy targets are actually met.

Community involvement is part of the model. Casey Trees invites residents to volunteer, advocate, plant trees, join its team, or nominate a space in DC — such as a school, house of worship, apartment complex, or business — that could use more trees and shade.

What to keep in mind

• The 40% by 2032 figure is a stated organizational goal, not a guaranteed outcome; canopy change depends on tree survival, policy, and development pressure.
• The 60,000+ trees planted figure reflects cumulative planting, not net canopy gain, since existing canopy is lost over the same period.
• Casey Trees publishes a Tree Report Card (referenced as 2025–26), which is the place to check current progress against the goal.

If you want to verify how close DC is to 40%, the Tree Report Card and the organization's latest news are the most direct sources. If you want to contribute, the fastest entry points are volunteering, nominating a planting site, or joining a planting event.