EcoAction Arlington launches Restore NoVa Forests, an effort to increase tree canopy cover in Northern Virginia by 2035.

The initiative “is a critical step to ensure Northern Virginia remains a healthy, vibrant place to live,” said Jim Lyon, board member of EcoAction Arlington.

Working with partners, the organization aims to explore best practices and opportunities for regional tree canopy expansion.

“By bringing together a broad range of perspectives and some new ideas, we hope to create a more unified approach to tree canopy restoration that meets the needs of our community and environment and achieves new levels of regional forest cover,” he said.

Northern Virginia is experiencing significant tree canopy loss due to population growth and urban development. The EcoAction Arlington initiative aligns with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ goals to achieve at least 40 percent tree canopy cover in the urban and suburban areas of Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax and 50 percent tree canopy cover across all of Northern Virginia over the next decade.