Matthew Stephens is senior forester for New York City Parks and Recreation.
Sarah Strubhar Matthew Stephens is senior forester for New York City Parks and Recreation.

Matthew Stephens
Senior Forester
New York City Parks and Recreation
[email protected]

Climate change equates to more/less rainfall, colder/warmer winters, and/or rising sea levels in areas near large coastal waters. A tree’s ability to tolerate these conditions will be critical to the long-term success of a city’s urban forest.

Resiliency varies by region and site type, so there’s no one-size-fits-all tree species. The goal of every public works program should be to plant as diverse an array as possible.

As long as a resilient species is chosen at planting time and maintained during the establishment period, each tree will thrive. The urban forest will become more resilient … one tree at a time.

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New York City’s approved species list.