Trees along the James River at Columbia – Photo by Fish Ed

Tree canopies play a crucial role in supporting environmental and human health. Yet, Virginians continue to lose trees at an alarming rate. Virginia’s tree cover has decreased 19% from 2001-2023. The loss of tree canopies diminishes our environment’s capacity to filter water pollutants and reduce air pollution and smog. Trees release fresh oxygen to breathe as the canopy layer provides shade and cools the air, which can directly reduce pollution levels and lower energy usage in buildings, cutting emissions from power plants. When forests are cut down, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat. The new Forest Conservation Act pinpoints where critical tree canopy loss is occurring to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and pollution.

This remarkable loss is exacerbated as extreme heat waves have become more frequent. Lower-income communities, which often lack funding for air conditioning in school buses, classrooms, and residential areas are disproportionately affected by these heat waves as they have fewer resources to mitigate extreme temperatures. Symptoms of extreme heat include heat exhaustion, kidney failure, and heat stroke, with symptoms ranging from dehydration and nausea to more severe outcomes like confusion and even death. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, are especially at risk. The absence of tree canopies exacerbates these risks by increasing the urban heat island effect.

HB309/SB461: (Delegate Patrick Hope/Senator David Marsden) Establishes the Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan to identify challenges to tree canopy health, such as land use, climate change, and invasive species. This new law also identifies priority forests for conservation through funding state and local organizations that are vital to these tree canopy conservation goals. The Department of Forestry will update the plan on a five-year basis.

The Forest Conservation Act addresses the challenges facing Virginia’s tree canopies and forests. The law requires the Department of Forestry to conduct comprehensive assessments of the health of Virginia’s forests. The assessment will explore various factors contributing to forest loss, such as increased development, invasive species, road construction, and other infrastructure projects. The Forest Conservation Act and the Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan are vital steps towards reducing deforestation, reducing tree canopy loss, and maintaining the health of our landscapes and human communities. 

The Forest Conservation Act prioritizes areas adjacent to streams and wetlands. The benefits of preserving and expanding our tree canopies include supporting businesses, biodiversity, and healthy environmental quality. Given the alarming loss of Virginia’s tree canopies, having transparent data on where the loss is happening is essential to guide targeted restoration efforts. Beyond temperature regulation, tree canopies serve as natural buffer zones, preventing polluted water from entering our rivers and streams. Tree roots stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and filter out water contaminants. 

This new law demonstrates that environmental protections happen through not only preserving existing resources but also through recognizing and proactively mitigating the root causes of resource loss.