The DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability has released a new Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Study, providing updated data on the county’s tree coverage and its changes over time. The study, conducted by Eocene Environmental Group, used satellite imagery and GIS mapping to assess the urban forest in unincorporated areas of DeKalb County from 2010 to 2023.
The UTC is defined as the area covered by leaves, branches, and stems when viewed from above. According to the study, trees covered nearly 58% of unincorporated DeKalb land in 2010. By 2023, this figure increased to more than 60%. Most gains were attributed to new tree planting or growth of existing trees, while losses came primarily from recent development in light industrial zones.
The report quantifies benefits such as carbon sequestration, air pollution removal, stormwater runoff reduction, and energy savings resulting from the county’s urban forest. Recommendations include adopting policy actions and management strategies for maintaining healthy canopy coverage.
“DeKalb’s extensive tree canopy and green spaces contribute significantly to the county’s quality of life and appeal as part of a major metropolitan area,” according to the study. “A continued healthy balance between growth and tree canopy cover will be essential to maintaining DeKalb’s long-term livability, environmental resilience, and quality of life for residents.”
Enrollment at DeKalb County schools dropped by 2.2% during the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). In that same year, schools enrolled a total of 98,287 students (https://www.gadoe.org/), with White students representing about 14% of the student body (https://www.gadoe.org/).
Further details on the UTC Study can be found at https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/dekalb-tree-canopy
