Two hundred years ago, the United States was a nation of farmers. Today, 80% of us live in urban and suburban areas. As our population continues to grow and sprawl into the surrounding environment, our neighborhood of trees and forests is being lost. This loss is more than sentimental-it carries an economic price tag.

Sprawl development is the number one threat to our nation's trees and forests, according to a 1999 survey of American Forests members. They are worried about the seemingly inevitable loss of forests and are joining with us to encourage tree-smart development that saves money and helps build livable, sustainable communities.

American Forests has spent more than 20 years researching the condition of our urban and suburban forests. Our work in the Puget Sound, Atlanta, and Chesapeake Bay regions has revealed a stark fact: the heavy tree canopy in all these areas has declined by more than one-third in just twenty-five years.

American Forests' Five-Step Plan to Combat Sprawl

Step 1: Know what you've got
Tree canopy cover is a proven indicator of community health and sustainability. What is your community's coverage? Find out with American Forests' CITYgreen software. Use it to measure your community's tree cover and calculate the dollar value of the environmental services it provides.

Step 2: Set tree cover goals
It is imperative that tree canopy goals be set for regions and communities. Our research indicates that most U.S. communities should strive for an overall tree canopy coverage of 40% (30% in the arid Southwest) to ensure a healthy ecosystem and quality of life. While local conditions vary, we recommend achieving the 40% average with: 15% coverage in downtown and industrial areas, 25% in urban residential and light commercial areas, and 50% in suburban residential areas

Step 3: Get organized
Build coalitions of civic organizations and government institutions to develop and promote your tree canopy goals. Develop specific plans with roles for neighborhoods, and civic and business organizations. Contact American Forests to learn how other communities are achieving their tree cover goals.

Step 4: Make policy
Insist that policymakers account for the costs and benefits of trees when planning development. Remind them that voters pay for tree loss. Develop community programs that protect existing trees and encourage significant new plantings with an emphasis on long-term funding and technical assistance to citizen groups. Make canopy coverage analysis a part of your area's regular environmental inventory.

Step 5: Take action
Most communities will need to plant new trees to reach an average 40% tree canopy cover. American Forests can help here too. We are the world's leading nonprofit tree-planting organization through our Global ReLeaf 2000 campaign, and your community can be part of this international effort. Join with us today and build a better environment for your family and your home planet!