Greenville County releases new tree canopy study, promises to protect natural resources

Sarah Swetlik, Greenville News

Greenville County is taking steps to protect its trees and forests.

Trees have many benefits, including health, protection from heat and lower energy costs. But as Greenville and the rest of the Palmetto State face rapid development, mature trees could be at risk.

A new study from the county, in partnership with the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the Green Infrastructure Center, looked at Greenville’s current canopy coverage, or the leaves and branches that cover the ground and provide shade. Currently, the county has 38% canopy.

Based on the study, Greenville County could increase the tree canopy to 46%. To do that, the county promised to protect the trees that are currently growing and continue planting new ones.

Protecting the tree canopy aligns with several objectives in Greenville County’s Comprehensive Plan to preserve natural resources.

Canopy shared between several trees covers S. Church St. in Greenville.
Canopy shared between several trees covers S. Church St. in Greenville.

The county will partner with organizations like TreesUpstate, a nonprofit dedicated to planting and protecting trees in the northern part of the state. TreesUpstate’s Executive Director Aaron Davis said they were excited to work with the county on a canopy study. They’ve also worked with the City of Greenville, which released a tree preservation ordinance in 2021, and the City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County.

“Part of our strategy at TreesUpstate is to increase the tree canopy of all the counties that are in our region,” he said. “Trees know no borders, and environmental benefits don't know borders.”

Davis said they look to cities like Charlotte, which has a 47% canopy, and Atlanta, which has a nearly 48% canopy.

According to the study, Greenville County will take a three-pronged approach to increasing canopy:

  • Strengthening a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for the county with more robust and stringent requirements for tree protection, along with penalties for the removal of trees

  • Using data analysis for both Greenville County officials and residents to understand current canopy coverage and the benefits of a healthy, robust canopy

  • Partnering with local organizations that focus on trees, like TreesUpstate

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program showed that more than 200,000 acres in Greenville County are forested. But as exponential development continues in the Upstate, trees are disappearing.

Read more: May the Forest be with You: Upstate groups celebrate forest stewardship, what you can do

The Global Forest Watch, a service from the World Resources Institute, monitors changes to global forests as they happen. In 2023, Greenville County lost nearly 1,150 acres of natural forest, according to the GFW service.

Even where trees do exist, they aren’t always equally distributed. Throughout the county, various areas have far lower canopy coverage than others, including areas like Berea, Parker, and Sans Souci in Greenville. In some areas, canopy coverage is as low as 12%, leaving residents vulnerable to intense heat or higher cooling costs.

According to the American Forests Tree Equity Score, most census blocks in South Carolina have adequate canopy. However, 341 blocks are considered “high" or "highest" priority areas where more trees are needed.

In areas of the state where more than 54% of residents live in poverty, canopy coverage decreases by an average of 3.3%. In areas where more than 64% of residents are people of color, the canopy decreases by an average of 3.2%.

The study stated that Greenville County will strive to protect and plant trees in priority neighborhoods.

TreesUpstate, formerly known as TreesGreenville, is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005. Their mission is to plant, promote, and protect trees in the Upstate. On Oct. 28, TreesUpstate invited volunteers to a neighborhood in Greenville to plant trees. Here, staff and volunteers prepare a tree to be planted.
TreesUpstate, formerly known as TreesGreenville, is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005. Their mission is to plant, promote, and protect trees in the Upstate. On Oct. 28, TreesUpstate invited volunteers to a neighborhood in Greenville to plant trees. Here, staff and volunteers prepare a tree to be planted.

TreesUpstate is already working on increasing tree equity or ensuring that each neighborhood has equal access to the benefits of trees in the area. Their NeighborWoods program allows residents to learn more about trees and their benefits and eventually plant them in the area. Recently, they planted more than 100 trees in West Greenville.  

“We want to see each neighborhood have the same access to trees and the same number of trees,” Davis said.

Davis said TreesUpstate advocates for studies across the region to gain a wider perspective and determine which areas need more trees.

“Our current neighborhood that we live in might have a nice amount of trees. Our own house might have a nice amount of trees. The places of business we go to, we may see trees on the way, but it's really difficult to have a bird's eye view and see what's happening across a much larger area and to see the different experiences that other people might have trees,” David said.

Sarah Swetlik covers climate change and environmental issues in South Carolina's Upstate for The Greenville News. Reach her at sswetlik@gannett.com or on X at @sarahgswetlik.

Have a question for Sustainability with Sarah? Ask here or email sswetlik@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville County study provides a bird's eye view of tree coverage

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