Sacramento — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is proud to announce a new interactive mapping tool to visualize urban tree canopy across California. This tool was developed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and displays 2022 high-resolution (60cm) urban tree canopy for all 2020 Census designated urban areas in the state of California, as well as canopy-related change between 2018 and 2022.
Tree canopy is a critical component of California’s environmental infrastructure, offering wide-ranging benefits from reducing extreme heat and improving air quality to enhancing property values and wildlife habitat.
This powerful new tool is intended for researchers, policymakers, local government, and the public and will help communities better understand, manage, and protect urban tree canopy across the state. This interactive platform provides detailed insights into the extent and changes of California’s urban tree canopy—defined as the layer of leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above.
CAL FIRE will host a public webinar on the new interactive mapping tool on April 29, 2025, at 10 a.m. To register, click HERE.
“This canopy analysis tool empowers local leaders and planners with the data they need to make smart decisions about where and how we maximize the benefits our urban forests.” said Walter Passmore, State Urban Forester with CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program (UCF).
Over the last five years, California has led the nation in investing in urban forestry and green schoolyards, with CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program alone awarding more than $195 million in grant funding to 111 projects across the state. Benefits of these projects include increased economic impacts, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation of extreme heat, enhanced learning environments at schools and childcare facilities, cleaner air and water, reduced energy use, flood and stormwater management, recreation, and improved public health, among many others. The program works to increase the long-term benefits trees provide for the benefit of all Californians.
The tool overlays the state’s urban tree canopy with important layers, including census data, urban heat severity, and the wildland-urban interface, providing users with a comprehensive view of how tree cover varies across communities and how it can be optimized.
Communities can use the California Canopy Analysis to:
- Prioritize tree planting in neighborhoods with high heat severity
- Monitor and respond to pest and disease threats
- Strategically select tree species that align with zoning and infrastructure
- Protect existing canopy and plan for long-term tree health
- Set and track goals in urban forestry master plans
- Protect homes in the wildland-urban interface from wildfire and natural disaster
The 2022 results show that 14.45% of California’s urban areas are covered by tree canopy, and nation-leading investments being made today will continue to provide shade and cover for California communities for decades to come. CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will use this data to inform tree planting, maintenance, and grant solicitation, helping to expand urban tree canopy cover across the state. More broadly, data from this new tool will be used to inform California’s strategic plan to increase urban tree canopy.
The tree canopy layer was created by EarthDefine and Dewberry, under contract with the USDA Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
To explore the tool and learn more, visit California Urban Tree Canopy. To download the data, visit CAL FIRE’s new Urban and Community Forestry Hub Site.