Tree Cities of The World

The City of Fort Lauderdale recently obtained its first ever Tree Cities of The World designation for the 2021 calendar year. This is a milestone event and Fort Lauderdale has now joined 138 cities from 21 different countries who were also recognized.  

To qualify for Tree Cities of The World status, the City had to meet five standards established by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 

Establish Responsibility

The city has a written statement by city leaders delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens—called a Tree Board.

Set the Rules

The city has in place a law or an official policy that governs the management of forests and trees. These rules describe how work must be performed—often citing best practices or industry standards for tree care and worker safety—where and when they apply, and penalties for noncompliance.

Know What You Have

The city has an updated inventory or assessment of the local tree resource so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city trees can be established.

Allocate the Resources

The city has a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of the tree management plan.

Celebrate Achievements

The city holds an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among residents and to acknowledge citizens and staff members who carry out the city tree program.

More Information

Learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Cities of The World Program at this official webpage: Tree Cities of The World. You can see the criteria our City needs to meet and maintain, as well as read stories from communities across that world.