UPDATED UTC ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY IN 2026-2027. CHECK BACK IN SPRING 2027 FOR UPDATED UTC ASSESSMENT.

A tree canopy assessment is a tool to quantify how much of a community's land area is covered by trees, identify the location of those trees, and identify where there are opportunities to plant trees. Tree canopy assessments also determine the amount and location of impervious cover. Results of an assessment can be evaluated through the lens of specific needs and can provide a blueprint of available and unavailable tree planting and conservation opportunities. The trees that comprise the urban forest of Saint Paul provide a variety of benefits. Trees are our largest source of green infrastructure and enhance the landscape by providing shade to homes, roads, and parking lots, and provide color, beauty, and character to the community. Trees also provide benefits behind the scenes, such as the interception and storage of rainwater and carbon, the reduction of noise pollution and have proven to reduce crime and stress.

About the 2010 UTC Assessment

Please note: the data from this assessment was obtained and compiled in 2010. It is merely a snapshot of the state of Saint Paul's urban forest canopy at that time and does not accurately reflect the canopy as it currently stands. Saint Paul Forestry has used this data over the last decade to help direct management decisions, improving the canopy and making the urban forest very different than it once was. Any updated canopy assessment data will be posted here as it becomes available.

In 2010, the University of Minnesota Spatial Analysis Laboratory performed a land cover classification for the City of Saint Paul defining tree canopy, impervious surface, buildings, water, grass and bare soil. The links below highlight the results of the classification. The documents are large and will take a few minutes to download.

Digital Classification and Mapping of Urban Tree Cover: City of Saint Paul {PDF}

City of Saint Paul Urban Tree Canopy Assessment 2011 {PDF}

Highlights:

  • Tree canopy covers 32.5% of the total land area of Saint Paul
  • 66.2% of Saint Paul is suitable for tree canopy cover
  • Residential, single-family parcels offer the greatest area for increased canopy cover

Canopy Comparisons:

  • Chicago, IL - 17.2%
  • New York City, NY - 24%
  • Des Moines, IA - 27%
  • Minneapolis, MN - 31.5%
  • Saint Paul, MN - 32.5%
  • Washington D.C. - 35%

What is the value of the trees in your yard? Find out by visiting the National Tree Benefit Calculator.