Trees Count 2025: NYC Parks Invites Volunteers to Join Citywide Tree Census, Launching Now

Image by NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney

Conducted every 10 years since 1995, NYC Parks’ tree census documents the health and condition of every public street and park tree across the five boroughs. 

Census unites new technology and the excitement of thousands of volunteers to generate data-driven results to protect the city’s urban forest

The launch of the Trees Count 2025 initiative, the fourth tree census in New York City history and the largest volunteer-driven urban forest survey in the nation was announced this week. With the launch, NYC Parks is seeking to involve thousands of volunteers to measure the size, location, and condition of the city’s trees. The data gathered will help to identify areas where more trees can be planted, supporting a more equitable urban canopy and increasing the many benefits trees provide, including carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, stormwater management, and urban heat island reduction. Volunteers can sign up at the 2025 Trees Count Hub website. 

This event kicks off the volunteer portion of the comprehensive, two-year initiative. Volunteers will survey trees within New York City parks using a mobile application with real-time data synchronization. Street trees will be surveyed with cutting-edge technology that combines vehicles equipped with ground light radar detection together with AI and machine-learning algorithms. This dual approach streamlines data collection and enables faster analysis and smarter decision-making about where trees are most needed and how to care for them over time.  

This year’s census utilizes the Trees Count 2025 Hub site, containing useful volunteer resources including project maps, tree identification information, participation events, and a progress tracker. The platform, in tandem with last year’s Vital Parks Explorer, integrates mapping technology with community feedback systems, allowing neighborhoods to directly inform tree care priorities and advocate for increased canopy coverage in historically underserved areas. 

Volunteer Experience

When volunteers attend Trees Count events in New York City parks, they will receive all materials needed for tree counting and measurement. Each event begins with a training session covering tree identification basics and proper techniques for measuring and assessing tree health and characteristics. Participants will then divide into teams and, using the mobile app, they will work within designated park zones to begin the census process. Volunteers should expect to spend approximately one to two hours actively counting and cataloging trees during each event. After completing their initial training, participants are encouraged to continue counting trees independently in smaller parks and green spaces throughout their neighborhoods, contributing to the comprehensive citywide urban forest assessment.  

Tree Census History

Conducting the tree census every 10 years is critical to deepening the understanding of New York’s urban forest and how it changes over time. The 1995 Street Tree Census provided NYC Parks with foundational information about the City’s urban forest. The 2005 Street Tree Census helped quantify ecological benefits and informed the groundbreaking MillionTreesNYC initiative. 

The 2015-2016 Trees Count brought together more than 2,200 volunteers for the largest volunteer initiative in Parks history, mapping 666,134 street trees and revealing that street trees confer $151.2 million in annual benefits to New York City. The 2025 census will create a 40-year longitudinal dataset, enabling NYC Parks to assess the impact of policies and we can apply equitable resource management policies and a data-driven approach to our urban forestry operations, management, and planning.   

Visit our website for more information about Trees Count 2025.