Governor Kathy Hochul launched the ‘25 Million Trees by 2033’ initiative during the 2024 State of the State Address to recognize the importance of trees and forests for climate mitigation and community health. DEC encourages all New Yorkers to record trees they plant via our Tree Tracker, which updates the dashboard below in real-time. Every tree counts!
25 Million Trees by 2033
Collect and donate seeds to help grow the next generation of New York State's trees!
Every Tree Counts! Help New York State meet its goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033! Whether you plant one tree or many, enter them into the Tree Tracker. Check out tree planning events near you.
Note: The Tree Tracker launched in February 2025. DEC is working with public and private partners to collect tree planting data for 2024. This will help ensure the dashboard fully reflects all of the efforts contributing to New York State’s tree planting goal.
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Content Cards
Did you plant a tree in 2024? Planting 25 million trees means New York State will need all hands on deck to help reach our goal. Whether you're planting one tree or hundreds, every tree counts by recording it in the 25 Million Trees Tracker. After you’ve tracked your tree or trees in the Tree Tracker, share the good news on social media with the official hashtag #25MillionTreesNY!
Image Credit
Chris Ray
Tree planting is a key strategy to help slow climate change and make our communities more resilient to challenges such as extreme heat, air pollution, and severe weather. Trees capture and store carbon in their leaves, roots, and trunks and offer ecological benefits such as providing wildlife habitat and naturally filtering air and water. Every tree planted–whether to create a new forest, assist in forest regeneration, or cool and beautify streets and neighborhoods–is a step towards a healthier, greener future for New Yorkers.
To achieve New York’s 25 Million Trees by 2033 goal, DEC is:
- Providing new and continued funding opportunities for public and private landowners to plant new forests and increase tree canopy in urban communities;
- Expanding New York State tree seedling production and nursery capacity by modernizing DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery;
- Engaging the next generation of environmental stewards through education and outreach; and
- Compiling an accurate record of trees planted across New York State using the Tree Tracker
- Data will be available on the 25 Million Trees Dashboard
How To Get Involved
Step 1: Plant Trees
Whether you are planting one tree or hundreds, every New Yorker can be part of this initiative. Start planning your planting project today!
It’s important to plant the right tree in the right place. When choosing your tree or trees consider the site’s soil type, sun exposure, moisture level, space limitations, and hardiness zone, and choose a tree species that will thrive in these specific conditions.
- Visit DEC’s How to Plant a Tree web page for more considerations.
- Planting many trees? Check out The Nature Conservancy’s Reforestation and Afforestation Guidance in New York State (PDF).
Step 2: Track Trees Planted
Record your tree plantings with DEC’s Tree Tracker to count toward the 25 million trees goal.
Any trees planted since Jan. 1, 2024, count toward the 25 million tree goal. When recording your tree or trees, be prepared to provide the location and number of trees planted. The Tree Tracker provides the option to submit additional information, if known, such as:
- The start/end date of the planting project;
- The type of tree species planted and its size;
- Where tree(s) were purchased or otherwise procured; and
- Photos of your planting efforts.
Image Credit
Adam Olinski, SUNY Morrisville
Step 3: Grow Your Tree
It is important to provide your newly planted tree or trees with proper care and maintenance to ensure survival. Adequate support and protection, mulch and/or fertilizer, and watering are all essential considerations. Learn about best practices for taking care of your tree.
25 Million Trees Events
Planting trees to celebrate Arbor Day? Getting volunteers out in the forest? Educating our next generation of environmental stewards? Add your event to our statewide 25 Million Trees Events calendar to help spread the word! Submitted events will be reviewed and then added to the public calendar after DEC approval.
View Upcoming Events
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Forest Tour in Sherman Creek Park | August 19, 2026 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | Swindler Cove, 3703 Harlem River Dr, New York, NY | New York | New York Restoration Project (NYRP) | Join the NYRP Urban Ag team for a special tour highlighting the edible food forest at Sherman Creek Park in Northern Manhattan. The food forest is home to many native edible forest plants, including a collection of cultivated fungi on the largest log yard anywhere in New York City. Participants in the tour will get to meet some of the plants and fungi, learn more about NYRP’s work in the Riley-Levin Teaching Garden, and hear about what it’s been like to create a food forest these last 3 years. To register, visit the NYRP website. |
| Volunteer: Highbridge Park Forest Crew | August 23, 2026 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Amsterdam Ave & W 190th St., New York, NY 10040 | New York | New York Restoration Project (NYRP) | Join NYRP to learn about the Highbridge Park forest while taking part in essential stewardship and restoration tasks, including invasive plant removal, litter cleanup, tree care, and planting projects. For more information, visit the NYRP website. |
| Volunteer: Highbridge Park Forest Crew | September 4, 2026 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Amsterdam Ave & W 190th St., New York, NY 10040 | New York | New York Restoration Project (NYRP) | Join NYRP to learn about the Highbridge Park forest while taking part in essential stewardship and restoration tasks, including invasive plant removal, litter cleanup, tree care, and planting projects. For more information, visit the volunteer webpage. |
| Volunteer: Highbridge Park Forest Crew | September 20, 2026 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Amsterdam Ave & W 190th St., New York, NY 10040 | New York | New York Restoration Project (NYRP) | Join NYRP to learn about the Highbridge Park forest while taking part in essential stewardship and restoration tasks, including invasive plant removal, litter cleanup, tree care, and planting projects. Visit the NYRP website for more information. |
| Volunteer: PawPaw Fest | October 2, 2026 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | 3725 10th Ave. New York, NY 10034 Manhattan, New York (Inwood) | New York | New York Restoration Project (NYRP) | : Join NYRP for a free community celebration of North America’s largest native fruit: the beloved pawpaw. The NYRP festival will feature: Free pawpaw tree giveaway; Pawpaw propagation workshop led by local pawpaw expert Reza Farzan; Pawpaw presentation from permaculture expert and regional authority Dale Hendricks; Participant-powered bike blender making fresh fruit smoothies; Guided tours of Sherman Creek and Highbridge Parks in Northern Manhattan; Live music and community partner activities. The event will be free and open to the public, with advance registration encouraged. |
| City of Forest Day 2026 | October 3, 2026 all day event | New York City Wide | Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond | Forest for All NYC in partnership with the Parks and Open Space Partners coalition and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation | City of Forest Day is an annual day of activities across NYC to raise awareness of the importance of the urban forest, and the essential role New Yorkers play every day in caring for the “lungs” of NYC. For more information, visit the Forest for All website. |
Check out the DEC Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs tree planting events occurring in the lower Hudson Valley.
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Workshop: Exploring and Conserving Hudson Valley Forests | September 26, 2026 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (rain date is September 27, 2026) | The specific meeting location for the workshop is within the county and will be shared with participants prior to the program. | Dutchess | The Hudson River Estuary Program’s Conservation and Land Use team and Hudsonia Ltd. | The Hudson River Estuary Program’s Conservation and Land Use team and Hudsonia Ltd. are hosting a field workshop to discuss how communities and land managers can proactively protect forests through land-use and conservation planning and policy. The field workshop will discuss forest ecosystem services, wildlife use of forests, different forest types, threats to forests; and conservation principles. This workshop is especially designed for members of municipal boards and committees; land trust staff; and others who are regularly engaged in land-use planning or policymaking. Priority registration will be given to individuals who have less experience related to forests. The workshop will be held outdoors. Participants must be comfortable standing for the duration of the workshop and walking approximately two miles on uneven ground with some possible steep areas along the route. The specific meeting location for the workshop will be shared with participants prior to the program. There is no charge for this event, but registration is required. Space is limited and early registration is recommended. Municipal training certificates for 2.5 hours of credit will be available. If you need more information in order to register, please contact [email protected]. This workshop was developed through a partnership with Cornell University and the Hudson River Estuary Program with funding from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund. To register, fill out the form. |
| American Revolution 250th Anniversary Commemoration | October 1, 2026 through October 30, 2026 from 8:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Multiple - Primary Location 28 Franklin Place; Pelham, NY 10803` | Westchester | Pelham Union Free School District | Pelham Liberty 250th Tree Planting Initiative. |
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioBlitz and Project Kickoff | September 19, 2026 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Homer Wheaton Park (311 Mountainview Ave Syracuse, NY 13224) | Onondaga | The City of Syracuse in partnership with Onondaga Earth Corps and LeMoyne College | The City of Syracuse is kicking off a Community Reforestation (CoRe) project at Homer Wheaton Park on during a “BioBlitz” event with LeMoyne College. After project leaders speak about Syracuse's Community Reforestation project, participants will disperse into the woods and use the iNaturalist application to collect citizen science observations of habitat data. There will be food and drinks provided by the Salt Springs Neighborhood Association after the event. Working towards their goal of expanding citywide tree canopy by 7%, the City, in partnership with the Onondaga Earth Corps, is restoring and planting trees across 8 forested sites (totaling 38 acres) and transforming them into thriving, ecologically healthy, and sometimes edible forests for residents to enjoy. |
| Community Reforestation Grant Groundbreaking | September 22, 2026 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Carantouan Greenway (Waverly, NY) | Tioga | Upper Susquehanna Coalition | The Upper Susquehanna Coalition, led by the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and partner municipalities, is kicking off the start of their Community Reforestation (CoRe) grant by planting over 150 trees following this groundbreaking ceremony. |
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYSA Summer Workshop at Draves | August 20, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Drave’s Arboretum, 1815 Sharrick Rd, Darien Center | Genessee | NY Society of Arborists | oin us for this FREE opportunity to network, learn about the professional tree care and resources available this summer, and take a tour of the Drave's Arboretum. To register, visit the NY Society of Arborists website. |
| Event Title | Date/Time | Location | County | Organizer | Description of the Event/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Resources Corner
25 Million Trees Toolkit (PDF)
Plan a tree-rific Arbor Day event with this toolkit for organizations and municipalities. Tie your events to the statewide initiative with social media posts, graphics, and the Tree Tracker.
Tree Planting and Care Fact Sheet (PDF)
A short and simple step-by-step guide to planting and caring for your tree seedling.
Tree Tracker Card (PDF)
3x5 index card with a QR code to the Tree Tracker, perfect as a handout at the checkout counter of your nursery or as swag at plant giveaways.
Request Tree Tracker Cards give away to customers and landowners.
25 Million Trees Logo (PNG)
Request 25 Million Trees logo stickers.
25 Million Trees Social Media Graphics
- 1 in 25 Million (JPG)
- Tree Benefits (JPG)
Reforestation and Restoration Resources
Reforestation and Afforestation Guidance for New York
This guide is for landowners interested in reforestation and provides information on project planning, site considerations, what to look for at a nursery, and maintenance and monitoring.
Large Scale-Reforestation at Hamilton College
This guide provides “lessons learned” by Hamilton College while reforesting their lands and can help others maximize success as they begin large-scale reforestation efforts.
Species Selection Tool for Ecological Restoration in NY
This tool provides a list of recommended native tree, shrub, and herbaceous plant species to improve habitats, increase biodiversity, and benefit wildlife across New York State.
Additional Resources
Technical Assistance
A forester, arborist, or natural resource professional can provide guidance on tree planting projects and connect you with additional resources to get started. Follow these links to find a professional near you:
- DEC Stewardship Forestry staff
- DEC Cooperating Foresters
- Species Selection Tool Supporting Ecological Restoration in New York
- ISA Certified Arborists
- Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Funding Opportunities
Image Credit
Sara Soika, Hamilton College
Use the DEC Grant Applications webpage to find potential funding opportunities for you and your tree planting project. Start with the list below.
- Funding for Municipalities, Communities, Nonprofits, and Land Trusts
- Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grant Program (PDF)
- Other Urban and Community Forestry Grants
- Green Resiliency Grant Program
- National Grid 10,000 Trees and Growing Program (PDF)
- The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
- Parks Tree Fund
- NYC Green Fund
- Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program
- Reforestation Request for Domestic Proposals- Arbor Day Foundation
- Funding for Private Landowners
- Funding for Nonprofits and Land Trusts
- Incentives
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