Home :: Our Programs :: Urban Forests :: 10 Best Cities for Urban Forests :: 10 Best Cities for Urban Forests: Minneapolis :: Minneapolis Urban Forest Fact Sheet

Minneapolis Urban Forest Fact Sheet

7104632697_08c73dbb77_z

City Statistics

Population+ 382,578
Land area by acres* 35,130
Park acreage* 5,121

+Based on the 2010 U.S. Census
*Courtesy of The Trust for Public Land

 

Minneapolis Urban Forest Facts*

  • The city has 979,000 trees.
  • The most common tree species are green ash, American elm and boxelder.
  • Approximately 47 percent of the trees are less than six inches in diameter.
  • Minneapolis’ trees:
    • Remove 384 tons of pollution annually, valued at $1.9 million.
    • Store 250,000 tons of carbon, valued at $4.6 million.
    • Sequester 8,900 tons of carbon per year, valued at $164,000.
    • Reduce building energy usage by $216,000 per year, which is estimated to
    • provide a value of $16,000 in avoided carbon emissions.
    • Have a structural value of $756 million.
  • Minneapolis’ urban tree canopy is 31 percent.+

* As reported in “Assessing Urban Forest Effects and Values,” which was developed for Minneapolisin 2006 by the U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Research Station
+ As reported to American Forests in its survey of the 50 most populous U.S. cities.

 

Top 10 Criteria

Urban Forest Management Plan No
Urban Canopy Goal Yes, supported by, but not mandated by, the city government
Quality of Urban Forest Compared to Others in Region Normal, which means some biotic damage and invasive species, some anthropogenic disturbance and some chemical and runoff issues
Tree Inventory Yes, covering public land
Tree Species Diversity Plan Yes
Tree Ordinances Yes, for both public and private lands
Comprehensive Greening Plans Yes, including a Sustainability Plan and Comprehensive Plan
Types of Greening Initiatives Natural resource restoration; urban forests as part of planning for runoff, erosion and/or flooding; active involvement of environmental stewardship groups
Park Acres per 1,000 People 13.39
Percentage of Land as Park 14.58
Quality of Civic Engagement Good, with citywide stewardship and neighborhood interactions
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.

Critical Issues