Local non-profit Sustainable JC (SJC) is kicking off Jersey City’s first ever tree census. According to SJC’s 2020 tree mapping report, the city’s tree canopy has deteriorated 4.1% in the past five years. The census is being launched to help restore the city’s canopy.
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A healthy tree canopy helps decrease pollution from storm water runoff, lowers temperatures in the summer, reduces air pollution, and helps increase property value. (Not to mention it provides shelter for city wildlife).
To help with the census, SJC is training a network of “citizen scientists” to help record existing trees throughout Jersey City’s wards. (Anyone can sign up to help via this Google form). SJC will then train volunteers to use their smartphone app and connect them to neighborhood captains. The goal is to record the GPS location of trees, tree metrics, health data, and tree species with photos.
SJC was launched in 2011 and has grown into a network of local individuals and organizations. The organization’s goal is to make Jersey City the greenest and most sustainable city in New Jersey.
