Phoenix's urban forest is shrinking — and residents say it's time to change that

A news article written by Dustin Gardiner and published on-line by The Arizona Republic on May 27, 2017

More than 94,000 trees have roots on city-owned land in Phoenix, from the iconic towering palms of Encanto Park to native mesquite and paloverdes that line many street medians and rights-of-way. While still massive, this urban forest under city stewardship is steadily shrinking. Almost 1,000 trees are lost every year to the powerful gusts of monsoon storms or accidents. The city used to replace them, but it nearly eliminated funding for tree replacement during the recession. Some residents and civic groups say the loss of trees in public spaces has become apparent after years of budget cuts. And the city recently agreed to spend more money on trees.

Phoenix's urban forest is shrinking — and residents say it's time to change that