TREE CITY SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating Mumbai for a dedication to trees
In the hot, congested streets of Mumbai, trees are workhorses. They provide cooling shade, filter pollutants out of the air, and offer a break from the hectic pace. In short, the thriving tree canopy supports the well-being of all residents.
That’s why the city is so committed to its trees — prioritizing the preservation of green space amid rapid urbanization. And this dedication has led to Mumbai earning Tree Cities of the World recognition for the third year in a row.
“Trees are the lifeblood of Mumbai,” said Jeetendra Pardeshi, superintendent of gardens and tree officer at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai. “In a
city known for its intense heat and pollution, trees offer respite by purifying the air, reducing heat, and adding much-needed greenery to the urban landscape. For the people of Mumbai, trees symbolize resilience and hope, representing a vital connection to nature amidst the concrete sprawl.”
As the city’s tree board works to further urban forestry policy, there is also an emphasis on educational events. A tree-focused event was held on the eve of World Environment Day in June, planting 500 trees across the city and featuring educational programming for children.
With Tree City recognition, their commitment to trees is set to continue into the future. Pardeshi reported that, for the next two to three years, the city is focused on planting 25,000 trees throughout the city using traditional urban planting methods and 1 million trees using the Miyawaki method — a process focused on densely planting native trees and shrubs to quickly develop a mini forest. These trees will help to alleviate the heat and pollution that have long plagued the city.
Mumbai is one example of the more than 200 Tree Cities worldwide that are focused on expanding and caring for their urban forests. Find the complete list of participating cites at arborday.org/world
SUPERCHARGED HURRICANES
Climate change is making storms longer and more intense, but trees are here to help
Hurricane Ida rolled like a tank through Lafitte, Louisiana, in August 2021. Its 150-mph winds were the first strike, followed by several feet of catastrophic saltwater flooding. The hurricane settled over Lafitte for 12 hours, destroying most homes in the area and taking out the community’s tree canopy.
Kathy Powajbo, a Lafitte resident, said the damage made her town unrecognizable. “Our community was devastated. It sort of looks like a war zone.”
Not to be outdone by Ida, Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida in 2022 with nearly Category 5 strength. In the following year, the summer and fall saw 20 named storms, three of which became major hurricanes. And on July 1, 2024, Beryl became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane in any Atlantic hurricane season.
Why does it feel like more and more tropical storms are reaching extreme levels? It all comes back to climate change.
HURRICANES LOVE HEAT
Much of climate change’s impact is happening in the ocean, where warming waters feed hurricanes extra heat that acts like jet fuel for storms.
Heat is energy that strengthens wind speeds, sets off larger storm surges, and allows hurricanes to intensify quickly before hitting land. Ida graduated from a Category 1 to Category 4 storm in only 24 hours. By the time it hit land, Ida had already reached its peak strength — at a speed that left many people unable to prepare.
Excess heat in the ocean worsens flooding, too. The process starts when warmer water gives off more water vapor. As a hurricane travels along the water, it picks up the extra moisture and drops it as rainfall on land. In Lafitte, some residents reported several feet of water on their property. The intensity of flooding lifted some homes from their foundations entirely. The day Ida hit, the ocean was 85 degrees Fahrenheit, a few degrees hotter than average.
Over the past 150 years, the number of Atlantic hurricanes has remained about the same. But as climate change worsens, scientists say to expect stronger, longer-lasting storms.
TREES CAN HELP US WEATHER THE STORM
Trees act like umbrellas during storms, intercepting rainwater to potentially prevent flooding. Meanwhile, tree root systems bind the soil to prevent erosion. Roots also absorb quantities of water that would otherwise become damaging runoff. And as climate change turns up the heat on extreme weather, trees are fighting back — pulling excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Cities are being more thoughtful than ever about how to plant trees, where to plant, and even what species to plant to best sustain and protect against these types of disasters while creating more resilient, healthy, and vibrant communities.
REPLANTING AS RECOVERY
After a hurricane, essential needs like food, water, and shelter come first. But when the flood waters recede and communities are ready to rebuild, the Foundation supports local planting organizations to rebuild the community’s canopy.
Fifteen months after Hurricane Ida made landfall, Kathy Powajbo was one of 350 residents who lined up for free trees to help restore the area and aid in future stormwater management. So what once felt like a “war zone” can start to feel more like home.
“These trees will definitely beautify our community,” she says, “But more importantly, the trees give us a sign of life, hope, and recovery.”
THE JOURNEY TO PLANTING 500 MILLION TREES
A snapshot of impact for fiscal year 2024
37 countries have improved forest cover
95% of all U.S. neighborhoods have engaged tree planters (through tree plantings, distributions, and member trees)
Planting 500 million trees is a big undertaking. In 2022, when the Arbor Day Foundation set out to plant that many trees by 2027, it was clear that bold action was necessary. It couldn’t simply be “business as usual” if the organization was going to plant record levels of trees to fight climate change, cool our neighborhoods, mitigate stormwater, and so much more. Each year has led to more innovation, more collaboration, and more reminders that the organization is not in this alone.
This year’s impact has been tremendous, in natural forests and neighborhoods alike. The 25.4 million trees added to the global forest this past year are on track to challenge climate change head-on. In the next 40 years, they will sequester 22.3 million metric tons of carbon — enough to make the country of Mongolia carbon-neutral for a year. And because trees always give back more, they will also break up heat islands, improve air and water quality, and foster biodiversity.
This work could not have happened without the support of an amazing network of donors, supporters, and tree planters. Thank you for being a champion for trees!
TREES IN THE GROUND
23.9 million trees planted in rural forests
1.5 million trees planted and distributed through community events
4 million trees distributed to members
Nearly 1 million trees planted by Tree Cities, Tree Campuses, and Tree Line USA Utilities
THE COLLECTIVE NETWORK
266 on-the-ground tree planting partners
400+ corporate supporters
706,452 members and donors
4,458 recognized Tree Cities, Tree Campuses, and Tree Line USA Utilities
