Governor Hochul Announces Sixteen Hundred and Fifty Trees Distributed Across New York State to Bolster the Twenty Five Million Trees Program

Published on December 1, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the distribution of 1,650 trees across New York State as part of the 2025 Tree Power program, significantly bolstering the state’s goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033. This initiative benefits 49 municipalities, agencies, and communities, especially those in underserved areas, marking the largest distribution since the program began in the 1990s. Governor Hochul highlighted that the Tree Power program’s focus on promoting sustainability and tree equity is a crucial step in improving air quality, enhancing public health, and boosting local economies. With this significant tree distribution, New York is making a marked difference in greening local communities, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to environmental health and resilience. By increasing the tree canopy in disadvantaged areas, the initiative will help create a more sustainable and equitable environment for all New Yorkers. This is just the beginning as the state works toward its ambitious 25 million trees goal, aiming to leave a lasting positive impact on communities and ecosystems across New York.

Tree Power: Empowering Communities Across New York

The Tree Power program, initiated in 1992, aims to enhance New York State’s biodiversity and environmental health by increasing native tree habitats. This year, the program distributed 1,650 trees, with recipients including municipalities, electric cooperatives, and state agencies. The program’s success stems from a collaborative effort, with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) providing critical support. The trees distributed this year will help improve air quality, reduce stormwater flooding, and lower energy consumption. Strategically planted trees also provide valuable benefits such as windbreaks and shade, reducing heating and cooling costs for buildings and promoting energy efficiency.

Notably, the Tree Power program places a strong emphasis on disadvantaged communities, where environmental benefits such as better air quality, enhanced outdoor recreation, and aesthetic improvements are most needed. The program’s two-for-one tree match for locations in these areas highlights the state’s commitment to promoting tree equity. By ensuring that underserved communities receive more trees, New York is fostering environmental justice and making the state’s greener initiatives more accessible to all. Communities across the state, including Westchester, the Finger Lakes, and parts of Western New York, are benefiting from this program, which ensures that trees are planted in areas that need them most.

The Environmental and Economic Benefits of Tree Planting

Planting trees offers a multitude of environmental benefits that go beyond the aesthetic. Trees play a critical role in mitigating stormwater flooding by redirecting water into the soil, reducing pressure on drainage systems and preventing flooding in urban areas. Additionally, they help improve water quality by filtering pollutants, contributing to healthier waterways and ecosystems.

Trees also enhance local biodiversity, providing habitats for various species. This contributes to stronger ecosystems, which are vital for maintaining a balanced natural environment. Furthermore, strategically placed trees around buildings can reduce energy consumption by providing natural shade in the summer and acting as windbreaks in the winter. This helps reduce the need for air conditioning in hot months and heating in cold months, making homes and businesses more energy-efficient.

Beyond their environmental impact, trees also bring economic benefits to local communities. By reducing energy costs and improving building efficiency, trees directly contribute to cost savings for homeowners and businesses. As trees mature, they increase property values, making neighborhoods more attractive to residents and investors. These benefits enhance the overall quality of life, creating healthier, more sustainable, and more prosperous communities across the state.

A Record Year: 1,650 Trees Distributed Across 49 Communities

This year’s Tree Power program marked a record with the distribution of 1,650 trees across 49 municipalities and agencies. This is the largest distribution since the program began, and it underscores the success and growth of the initiative. The trees were distributed through a matching program, where NYPA matched tree orders made by local governments and agencies, up to $5,000 in total value. The program included a special emphasis on tree plantings in disadvantaged communities, with a two-for-one match for areas that need the most support.

Communities across New York, including Port Chester, Mount Vernon, Irvington, and Scarsdale, received trees to plant in parks, around public schools, and along roadways. These trees will help beautify public spaces, provide shade, and contribute to the state’s environmental goals. Other recipients include state agencies such as the Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), as well as locations in Western New York and the Finger Lakes region. The state’s commitment to tree planting is evident, with ongoing efforts to expand the program and reach more communities each year.

The distribution of these trees is just the beginning. Many of the municipalities are already planning to plant the trees in key areas such as local parks and schoolyards, contributing to a greener and healthier environment. As trees continue to be planted in New York, the state is making significant progress toward its 25 million trees goal.

Governor Hochul’s 25 Million Trees by 2033 Initiative

Governor Hochul launched the ambitious “25 Million Trees by 2033” initiative during the 2024 State of the State Address. This goal underscores the importance of trees and forests for climate mitigation, public health, and overall environmental sustainability. The initiative highlights the state’s commitment to increasing tree canopy coverage, enhancing air quality, and promoting climate resilience.

The 25 Million Trees by 2033 initiative is supported by a robust tree tracking tool and a dedicated website, which allows New Yorkers to record the trees they plant and track the state’s progress in real-time. By engaging New Yorkers in this effort, the state hopes to inspire more residents and communities to get involved in tree planting, furthering the reach of the program. The initiative has already made a significant impact, with over 9,700 trees planted since 2016, sequestering more than 500 metric tons of carbon emissions and providing over $2 million in energy and quality-of-life benefits.

This year’s tree distribution adds a major milestone to the state’s progress, moving New York closer to its 25 million trees goal. The long-term environmental benefits of planting these trees will help ensure that New York remains a leader in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate action for years to come.

Conclusion: The Future of Greener New York

Governor Hochul’s announcement of the 1,650 tree distribution is a significant step toward achieving New York’s ambitious 25 million trees goal by 2033. The Tree Power program’s success this year demonstrates the state’s ongoing commitment to improving environmental health, promoting tree equity, and supporting local communities. By planting trees, New Yorkers are not only enhancing their surroundings but also contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for the state. The distribution of trees across nearly 50 communities is just the beginning, as New York continues to make strides toward creating a healthier, more resilient environment. With continued support for the Tree Power program and the 25 Million Trees initiative, New York is well on its way to ensuring a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.