South Boston NDC’s Brown testifies during hearing to expand tree canopy in District 2
South Boston NDC Executive Director Donna Brown testified about the importance of trees in the neighborhood during Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn’s public hearing last week to address the urgent need to expand the urban tree canopy in District 2. (Coincidentally, just days after the hearing, street trees were planted in front of Patriot Homes!)
Flynn’s district includes some of the most tree-deficient neighborhoods in the city — South Boston, Chinatown, the Leather District, Downtown, and Fort Point. According to Flynn, South Boston and Chinatown had just 8% and 7% tree coverage, respectively, as of 2019, compared to the citywide average of 27%.
“South Boston has the second-lowest tree canopy in the city, and our neighborhood is impacted by heat island effect, including high night-time temperatures in the summer,” Brown said during her testimony. “The lack of tree canopy impacts the health of our residents. For these reasons, I am pleased to offer support for the expansion of the District 2 Tree Canopy.”
“A healthy urban tree canopy is important to our environment and quality of life,” Flynn said, noting they absorb excess stormwater runoff, provide shade, provide filters for pollutants, and bring a host of environmental and public health benefits.
Flynn expressed concern over the continued loss of trees in the district due to storms, private development, pests, and insufficient maintenance. He called for stronger collaboration between city officials, community groups, and residents to identify planting locations and maintain existing trees.
Brown emphasized that for more than 15 years, South Boston NDC’s work has included tree-planting and preservation, educating the community about the importance of trees, and advocating for the planting of additional trees in the neighborhood.
“As important as it is to plant new trees, preserving the ones we have is also critical. Large trees have the greatest environmental benefit,” Brown added. “Educating the public is another important part of improving the tree canopy. It is imperative to gain the support of neighbors for tree planting on public and private property.”
Brown pointed out that South Boston NDC has planted 15 new trees last year thanks to a grant from the Boston Tree Alliance. And from 2010-2013, South Boston NDC planted trees at local churches, housing developments, and nonprofits.
Councilor Flynn heard from several panel members, including Chris Cook, Executive Director of the Rose Kennedy Greenway; David Meshoulam, ED of Speak for the Trees; Angela Soo Hoo from Asian CDC; and members of the city’s Urban Forestry Department, including Todd Mistor, Director of Urban Forestry.
Brown ended her testimony by saying: “I hope that the Cty will continue its efforts to plant more trees wherever there is room for street trees and in our local parks. In our densely built neighborhood, we need to be creative and resourceful as we identify sites for trees. We look forward to working with the City to plant more trees in South Boston.”
