Tampa's Tree Crisis: Storms & Development

0:00It's April 23rd. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Tampa Bay News today. Local news powered by AI. Tampa just got hit with some tough news on its green side. A fresh study from the University of South Florida shows the city lost nearly 5% of its tree canopy after hurricanes Irene and Milton and two. 1024. That setback wiped out more than 3 years of growth, dropping coverage back to 2021 levels. In South Tampa especially, those massive oak trees that shaded whole blocks are gone now, changing the whole vibe of neighborhoods. But it's not just the storms. Development is wrapping up tree removals too, and city leaders push for this early study to dig into that. Folks living there are feeling the heat, literally. No more shade for walks, less wildlife and air quality taking a hit. Tree canopy, cool things down, and boost life quality. So this lost things. Some residents and groups say the city's response feels slow, especially with the state law, letting owners chop risky trees on their land.

1:02The study didn't fully break down developments roll yet, but future checks will track canopy changes 5, 10, even 15 years after big. Projects. Officials want answers on whether we're rebuilding or losing more ground. Researchers are pushing smart moves like planting diverse species that stick around for decades. Tampa's got work ahead to shade its streets again and keep that natural flow strong.