Austin Urban Forest Fact Sheet
City Statistics
| Population+ | 790,390 |
| Land area by acres* | 160,969 |
| Park acreage* | 28,911 |
+Based on the 2010 U.S. Census
*Courtesy of The Trust for Public Land
Austin Urban Forest Facts*
- 6,465 street trees in the survey area, representing nearly 100 different species
- 8,460 park trees in the survey area, representing 96 different species
- Crape myrtles, southern live oaks and cedar elms were the most abundant trees in the survey in both parks and on streets.
- 67 percent of the city’s trees are 10 inches or less in diameter.
- 24 percent of the city’s trees are between 11 and 20 inches in diameter.
- Austin’s urban tree canopy is 30 percent.+
*As reported in “Urban Forest Inventory Report for the Transit Corridors and Parks,” which was developed for Austin in 2008 by ArborPro, Inc.
+As reported to American Forests in its survey of the 50 most populous U.S. cities.
Top 10 Criteria
| Urban Forest Management Plan | Being developed |
| Urban Canopy Goal | Yes, initiatied in 2012 and will be reviewed on a five-year cycle |
| Quality of Urban Forest Compared to Others in Region | Better than normal, with minor biotic damage and few invasive species, minimal anthropogenic disturbance, high water quality and good drainage |
| Tree Inventory | Yes, covering public and private land |
| Tree Species Diversity Plan | Yes, included in the Urban Forest Management Plan |
| Tree Ordinances | Yes, for both public and private lands covering hazard, historic and other trees |
| Comprehensive Greening Plans | Yes, including a Green Infrastructure Plan and Sustainability Plan, plus Climate Change initiatives across multiple departments |
| Types of Greening Initiatives | Protection of open spaces; natural resource restoration; urban forests as part of planning for runoff, erosion and/or flooding; green jobs training; active involvement of environmental stewardship groups |
| Park Acres per 1,000 People | 36.58 |
| Percentage of Land as Park | 17.96 |
| Quality of Civic Engagement | Good, with nonprofits and neighborhood organizations serving as leaders in promoting and organizing local stewardship for urban forests |
| Tree City USA* | Yes |
| Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Signatory | Yes |
*Designation awarded by The Arbor Day Foundation to cities that have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
