Once upon a time, Iowa’s landscape was lush with trees.
Central Iowa alone boasted a 20% tree canopy: a vital green infrastructure that shaded our communities, cleaned our air, and anchored our soil. Today, that number has dwindled to just 4% coverage. Storms, invasive pests, and unchecked development have stripped away much of the natural protection our communities once relied on. What remained is fragile, and what we lost next will be nearly impossible to replace without deliberate action.
That is why the One Million Trees Central Iowa Initiative, led by the nonprofit Trees Forever, is one of the most important environmental efforts of our time. The mission is both simple and ambitious: to plant and preserve one million trees in the 10-county Central Iowa region by 2032.
Trees are not just scenic backdrops; they are infrastructure. A single mature tree absorbs more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and produces roughly 100,000 liters of oxygen. Tree canopies lower summer temperatures, reduce stormwater runoff, and filter pollutants from the air we breathe. They also improve human health in tangible ways. Research shows that living and working near trees can reduce stress, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and even make streets safer. Neighborhoods with trees enjoy stronger property values, greater community cohesion, and cooler, cleaner air.
When a region loses its trees, it loses more than greenery – it loses resilience.
Planting, Preserving, and Protecting
The One Million Trees Initiative is not just about new plantings. It is a three-part commitment to planting, preservation, and policy. That means tracking and celebrating every tree planted across Central Iowa’s cities, towns, and rural spaces, both public and private.
It means conserving existing woodlands and placing vulnerable lands into protective easements.
It also means working with municipalities to strengthen local ordinances that support long-term urban forestry and sustainable development.
Trees Forever, the only nonprofit in Central Iowa dedicated solely to urban and rural forestry, is leading the charge. But this is not a job for one organization alone. Achieving one million trees requires everyone: city leaders, developers, farmers, neighborhoods, and families. This initiative is ambitious but achievable if we act now. Every sapling planted, every woodland preserved, and every policy improved brings us closer to a stronger, healthier Central Iowa.
The benefits will be felt for generations:
cleaner air, cooler cities, safer neighborhoods, and a renewed sense of balance between human progress and the natural world that sustains it. It is time to rebuild the canopy that once defined Iowa’s landscape and identity.
One Million Trees
Ten Years
One future worth growing
