"Why some U.S. cities are so much greener than others."

"Ever since I first visited D.C., I was in awe of how full of trees it was. Rock Creek Park, one of the oldest city parks in the United States, is a factor but even walking through residential roads across the District, lush greenery can be found at every corner — from slender maples to towering oaks swelling the sidewalks with their roots.

I decided to find out whether it’s luck or careful planning that is responsible for D.C.’s impressive urban forest. Researchers at the Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and forestry consultancy PlanIT Geo have mapped tree cover across all urban areas in the country using aerial imagery and artificial intelligence. Their computer model analyzes patterns in color, shape or shadowing to detect tree crowns.

The maps allow us to see what the most forested places in the U.S. have in common."

Niko Kommenda reports for the Washington Post April 23, 2025. [2]