Tree Pittsburgh and Colcom Foundation Help Restore Decimated Tree Canopy in Allegheny County

Between 2019 and 2020, a major effort to restore the ravaged tree canopy in Allegheny County was undertaken by Tree Pittsburgh, thanks to a sizable donation from Colcom Foundation. 

Founded in 2006, Tree Pittsburgh, formerly known as Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, is committed to raising funds, educating people, and taking care of Pittsburgh's trees. The organization's goal is to become a pioneer in building a healthy and thriving urban forest by involving citizens in tree maintenance, planting, and protection. 

Part of Tree Pittsburgh's effort includes replenishing the tree stock in the county, which has been repeatedly shorn of vegetative cover due to the region's industrial history and large population base. The Tree Pittsburgh project is among several initiatives focused on recognizing the importance of replenishing the tree stock and restoring the urban forest canopy.

According to a tree canopy survey report released in 2018, Allegheny County experienced drastic changes in the canopy of the county, with a loss of 10,148 acres from 2010 through 2015. 

To give it context, 10,000 acres is an area larger than 10 times the size of Central Park. The loss of such a large amount of trees can result in major repercussions on the natural environment and the health of the community.

One factor contributing to canopy loss was the arrival of the invasive emerald ash borer, which began infesting trees in the area in 2009. Another issue was the spread of oak wilt fungus, which resulted in the death of several trees in Schenley Park. Additionally, around 3 to 5 percent of the total loss was due to the removal of trees that were naturally aging and dying.

However, the loss was largely attributed to housing, road, utility and rail expansion, gas drilling and pipeline development, particularly in Elizabeth and Forward in the southern part of the county.

The decline in tree cover has also had significant implications for the region's natural stormwater management system, which could lead to an increase in flooding and landslides. Trees help to hold back stormwater and stabilize hillsides, and the loss of canopy cover poses a significant threat to this system. The report emphasized the need to care for mature trees and plant new trees in order to mitigate the loss of tree cover and its impacts on the region.

In response to the drastic need for remediation, Colcom Foundation stepped forward with a generous grant that would go toward enabling Tree Pittsburgh to give away 4,000 trees to residents of communities that have experienced the most significant loss of tree cover to help restore the urban forest canopy in Allegheny County. 

The purpose of the grant was not only to restore the beauty of the landscape but also to control stormwater runoff, improve air and water quality, and contribute to the long-term health and sustainability of the region's urban forest canopy in an effort to mitigate climate change.

Colcom Foundation's passionate commitment to preserving tree canopy in Pittsburgh is also evident through several other projects, including their funding of the Pittsburgh Redbud Project, launched in 2016 by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The initiative involved planting numerous flowering Eastern redbuds and other native trees and shrubs on various trails, hillsides, and open spaces in downtown Pittsburgh and on the North Shore, which are visible from the city's riverfronts. 

Colcom Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 by Cordelia S. May, an environmentalist and philanthropist who was passionate about conservation and sustainability. 

Over the years, the Foundation has provided significant funding for various environmental initiatives in Western Pennsylvania and across the United States, including programs aimed at conserving forests, restoring waterways, protecting wildlife, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The Foundation also supports organizations working on issues related to immigration, education, and human services.

Colcom Foundation's contribution to the Tree Pittsburgh project is a testament to its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability. The 4,000 trees donated with the help of the Foundation's grant are a significant step towards restoring the urban forest canopy in Allegheny County, providing numerous benefits to the community and the long-term vitality of the environment.

Colcom Foundation's contribution to the Tree Pittsburgh project is a prime example of how private foundations can play a crucial role in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability. By supporting initiatives aimed at replenishing the tree stock and restoring the urban forest canopy, Colcom is working toward creating a healthier, more sustainable future for us all.