The City of Wichita is moving ahead with plans for a program to protect and expand the tree canopy in the community, and a study has identified 17 areas where trees are most needed.

An update to a proposed tree policy was presented to City Council members in a workshop meeting Tuesday, and it identifies 17 “heat islands” that have been created by a lack of trees or the loss of trees in neighborhoods.   A study was conducted by the NASA Langley Research Team that looked at the relationship between heat, trees and the environment.  The city’s arborist, Gary Farris, said residents in those heat islands are being disproportionately affected by higher temperatures.

The study identifies 17 census tracts in central and southern areas of the city that will be targeted for tree planting operations, and the first initiative is planned for November and December.    The tree policy will apply to public projects on city property and city rights-of-way.   When the city is designing capital improvement projects, there will be a focus on keeping and protecting as many trees as possible.

Farris said the city is projected to purchase over 1,300 trees for planting in the next year, but it won’t replace trees that are being lost in the community.   He said if the city was to plant 5,000 trees on city property, there would not be enough staff to care for them.    He said the city is going to have to partner with the public to get trees planted all over the community in order to impact the overall environment.    Farris said this is a long-term investment in the community, and it may be 30 to 50 years to determine the effectiveness of the tree policy.

The tree policy will go to the city’s sustainability integration board for input, and then it goes to the park board in October.   City Manager Robert Layton said input will be gathered from interest groups before it comes back to the City Council for final approval.