The Tree Action Plan is a 20-year strategy for conservation and management of the county's tree resources. The Tree Action Plan was developed using a collaborative process that involved the Tree Commission, county staff, citizens and builders. In June of 2007, the board of supervisors formally adopted a 30-year tree canopy goal based on the recommendations in the Tree Action Plan. The goal is to increase Fairfax County's tree cover to 45% by the year 2037. For more information, see the Tree Action Plan (PDF) or contact the Urban Forest Management Division at 703-324-1770, TTY 711 or by e-mail.
Tree Action Plan Goals
- Commit to conserve current tree assets.
- Enhance the legacy for future generations.
- Increase the effectiveness of urban forestry with planning and policymaking.
Tree Action Plan Core Recommendations
- Engage and educate.
- Build strong partnerships and alliances.
- Optimize tree conservation in county policies.
- Improve air quality and address climate change through tree conservation.
- Improve water quality and stormwater management through tree conservation.
- Use ecosystem management to improve and sustain the health and diversity of our urban forest.
- Strengthen state-enabling authority for tree conservation.
- Encourage sustainable design practices.
- Plant and protect trees by streams, streets and trails.
- Optimize tree conservation in land development.
- Optimize tree conservation in utility and public facilities projects.
- Support and refine the county's urban forestry programs.
Long Term Threats to the Health of our Forest
- Native forest tracts preserved after land development need managing in order to survive and provide maximum benefits.
- Zoning required landscaping is maturing and needs proactive management.
- Screening and parking lot landscaping ordinances need updating.
- Additional tree cover will be lost due to infill and redevelopment.
- Effects of urbanized environment on trees.
- Introduction and damage caused by exotic forest pests, such as emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle.
- Expansion of public roads, highways and other transportation corridors.
- Continual fragmentation of forested tracts to facilitate installation, expansion and maintenance of utilities and other infrastructure.
- Development and expansion of governmental facilities.
- Development and expansion of active recreational facilities such as athletic fields.
- Tree removal in residential areas brought about by differing cultural values.
- Continual introduction and proliferation of invasive plant species.
- Degradation of native forests by unmanaged deer populations.
- Disposal of yard debris and household chemicals.
- Turfgrass expansion, forest understory clearing and other human-related impacts.
- Impacts of climate change on tree species and other organisms that inhabit forest ecosystems.