Large trees deliver decades of ecological services that replacement plantings simply cannot replicate in the short term: absorbing stormwater, capturing carbon, cooling neighborhoods, and sustaining biodiversity.

 

Yet, too often, development defaults to removal and replanting, erasing canopy that took generations to grow.​​

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To change course, local governments must adopt policies that treat mature trees as critical assets from the start of the planning process. This means embedding retention mandates, offering incentives, and providing flexible standards that prioritize preservation.