Learn / Urban Forestry
Protect our Trees
Our trees breathe with us.
Your backyard trees protect your home from flooding and erosion, shade your yard, and most importantly, clean the air we breathe. But how much do you really know about them? Check out our resources below to learn more.
The math is simple. The more trees we keep around us, the more protected we are from the uncertainties of a changing climate.
We know that we are losing too many trees to development. That’s why we’re protecting the trees that grow in our community and planting at least 2,500 trees each year to restore the tree canopy.
To ensure we have enough trees to plant, we grow thousands of native trees each year at our tree nursery.
How We Restore the Tree Canopy
How Can You Help Protect Our Trees?
Become a TreeKeeper
Interested in protecting or planting the trees in your neighborhood? Learn more about becoming a TreeKeeper.
Volunteer at our Nursery Workdays
Sign-up here to lend a hand at our tree nursery and help care for the next generation of native trees.
Sponsor a Tree Planting
The generous support of businesses and community organizations allow us to plant trees throughout Asheville. Interested in partnering with us on a tree planting project?
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Sponsorship Interest Form
Honor a Treasured Tree
Did you know our oldest trees do the most to protect our community from a changing climate? Protecting these Treasured Trees is a powerful way to ensure that everyone in our community benefits for years to come.
For over 40 years, we’ve honored our ancient, rare, and special trees to:
Bring public awareness to these valuable and irreplaceable trees
Increase tree owners' awareness of the unique importance of trees
Encourage stewardship of our urban forest
Protect all trees from indiscriminate removal or irreparable damage during development
Raise awareness of the diversity, sensitivity, and importance of the tree canopy
Each Treasured Tree is recognized with a unique plaque. To nominate a tree, please fill out the form below with as much information as possible. If you are able, please consider donating to help keep our Treasured Tree program going!
Want to honor a Treasured Tree in your neighborhood?
Tree Canopy Study
In 2019, Asheville GreenWorks partnered with the City of Asheville, Davey Tree, the Urban Forestry Commission, and NASA Develop on an Urban Tree Canopy Study. Over a 10-year-period, Asheville experienced a 6.4 percent tree canopy loss, 891 acres of trees or 675 football fields! Moreover, the majority of these trees were lost in low- to moderate-income areas.
In real time, this loss of tree cover means a significant loss of ecosystem services, including an increase in stormwater runoff, (costing the city $1,600,000); the loss of carbon storage ($6,850,000), and the decrease in air pollution removal ($23,500).
How was your neighborhood affected? Take a look at the study to find out.
NOAA Heat Mapping Campaign
In 2023, GreenWorks lead a community-wide effort to map the hottest neighborhoods in Asheville and parts of Buncombe County, as one of 18 cities in an international NOAA study on extreme heat in urban areas.
Learn more about the campaign and see how you can support this work!
Take a walk around the block with our Tree Discovery Guide to learn more about the native tree species you see on your daily dog walks and neighborhood bike rides.
Tree Discovery Guide
Tree Time!
The Tree Time! video accompanies our Tree Discovery Guide and allows you to learn more about the trees and their characteristics.
Urban Forestry Youth Activities
Check out our family friendly activities to learn more about the native trees in your neighborhood.
Dichotomous Key Lesson
Determine the species of ten native trees using a simplified dichotomous key! Suggested for grades 5 - 8.
Leaf and Seed Matching Activity
Match leaves and seeds (technically fruits) that come from the same tree species. Suggested for grades 3 - 5.
To Build a Tree
Build your own tree and act out the parts! Suggested for grades 3 - 5.
