The urban forest of Denton plays a crucial role in the livability and sustainability of the city. Denton’s 3.5 million trees impact everything from economic development to the overall health of the people that live, work, and play in Denton every day.
A more comprehensive understanding of the urban forest’s structure, function, and associated value can promote effective policy development, sound management planning, and help set and anticipate future budgetary requirements. During the summer of 2016 the City of Denton and Keep Denton Beautiful partnered with Preservation Tree Services, Inc., Texas Trees Foundation, and Plan-It Geo, Inc. to perform the most detailed and comprehensive study of Denton’s urban forest resource ever completed.
Key Findings
- Denton’s 3,463,000 trees had a structural value of $2.06 billion
- Denton’s trees provided $7.2 million annually in environmental services
- Trees cleaned the air by storing 458,000 tons of carbon valued at $61 million
- Trees provided over 52 thousand tons of Oxygen per year
- Trees provided annual energy savings of $1.6 million annually
- Denton’s average tree canopy was 30%
- 46% of Denton’s urban tree canopy was located on undeveloped land
- Within Denton’s ETJ there was an increase in canopy of 2.2% from 2008 to 2014
- 14% of the surface area in Denton was covered with impervious surfaces such as buildings, cement, roads and parking lots.
- 44% of the current land area was suitable for future tree planting
- Denton’s most common tree species include: Sugarberry, Cedar Elm, Post Oak.