Arlington Canopy Alliance
Arlington Canopy Alliance: a large oak with a cardinal, framed by houses and smaller trees.

Arlington Canopy Alliance aims to protect mature trees and advocate for policies that help Arlington stay green and resilient.

We are an independent group of neighbors and Town Meeting Members. Anyone who lives in Arlington is welcome to join us.

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TREES AND HUMAN MORTALITY

Saving old trees may protect people’s health more than planting new ones

Research published in the journal GeoHealth tracked tree canopy cover and mortality across Chicago neighborhoods over 11 years. It found that it wasn't the number of trees in a neighborhood that was most strongly linked to residents' survival — it was whether the overall tree canopy was shrinking or growing from one year to the next. Neighborhoods that kept losing tree cover tended to see death rates climb, especially in the hottest parts of the city, while neighborhoods that kept gaining canopy saw death rates fall.

Mature trees framing a park lawn and a bench, with the Chicago skyline across the water behind them.
The study compared canopy change with death rates across Chicago’s neighborhoods.

NOV 3 · STATE BALLOT: QUESTION 7

Question 7 would reduce greenspace and leave less room for trees.

Question 7 would require cities and towns across Massachusetts to reduce minimum lot sizes for residential properties to 5,000 square feet.

Question 7 does not require houses to be smaller or affordable.

The reality is developers will build the biggest possible market-rate homes to maximize profits, leaving less room for trees and green space. Subdivisions of existing properties could also put mature trees at risk.

We encourage people to vote NO on Question 7 to protect Arlington’s tree canopy and green space.

Redevelopment and trees

Two important initiatives are underway in town that directly affect our trees: the Affordable Housing Overlay District and the Arlington Heights Business District rezoning. Both initiatives propose zoning with zero setbacks for buildings, eliminating the space needed for trees—or any greenery—to grow and mature.

Please try to attend one or more of these upcoming meetings to learn more and voice your support for Arlington’s tree canopy.

Affordable Housing Overlay Learn more and register

  • Thurs., Oct. 22, 7:00 p.m. In person, Arlington High School cafeteria.

Heights Business District rezoning Learn more·Read the draft plan

  • Thurs., Nov. 5, 7–8:30 p.m. In person, Peirce Elementary School Cafetorium.

Lessons from Cambridge

See how minimal to no setback impacts trees and green space in this video from Cambridge City Councilor Cathie Zusy.

You can see examples of new developments with zero setback already happening in Arlington…

A new three-storey building at 887 Massachusetts Avenue, built out to the sidewalk with no front setback and a single young street tree beside it.
887 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington.

Lost Trees of Arlington

IN PROGRESS

Our research project.

Mature trees are coming down across town for teardown-and-rebuild construction, and most removals are never recorded anywhere the public can see.

We are compiling the record: every address, species, trunk diameter, and permit, so residents and Town Meeting can see what is actually being lost.

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Properties documented
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Trees removed
Results coming soon

News & Events

Where to find us, and what's happening around town.

What we do

Our goal is to help Arlington preserve and expand its tree canopy by:

  • Documenting changes to the canopy and building a public record of mature trees removed during redevelopment.
  • Providing information and resources to help residents better understand factors that affect Arlington’s trees.
  • Working with residents, Town committees, and elected officials to explore practical ways to preserve mature trees, encourage new planting, and strengthen Arlington’s urban forest. Our first step was Article 23 at the Spring 2026 Town Meeting, which was introduced but not passed — see the full warrant.

We are happy to collaborate with any and all committees and groups in Arlington.

Get involved

Three ways you can support the Canopy Alliance…

  1. See a tree being cut down? Email us with the details. Arlington Canopy Alliance is tracking tree loss across town.
  2. Got tech skills? We could use a volunteer to support our data collection.
  3. Most importantly, turn out to public meetings about town initiatives that put our trees at risk — the people who show up are the ones whose voices are heard. See the list of meetings above, and we will keep you posted about future public engagement events.
Contact us to volunteer arlingtoncanopyalliance at gmail dot com

Not ready to volunteer? Join the mailing list and we will keep you posted.

Join our Facebook group and follow our page.