The City of Miami Beach has conducted regular tree surveys since September 2013 to catalogue the health and other characteristics of its tree canopy.

A typical tree survey is performed to identify the tree species, document the trees’ exact location, measure various dimensions of the tree such as height and DBH, and describe the current health of the tree and perhaps even its local environment. According to the most recent analysis of the City’s tree survey, there are over 1,500 dead or critical trees in Miami Beach’s urban canopy. These trees pose a hazard to the public and occupy the space that could be used to plant future healthy trees.

Typically, once a tree inventory has been completed by a municipality, all the observed dead and critical trees are scheduled for removal. Due to the large number of trees that pose a hazard to the City’s residents and visitors, it will be necessary to seek contractor assistance rather than solely completing the work with City staff.

A key mission of the Urban Forestry Division is to maintain and grow the City’s urban canopy. To properly maintain our urban canopy, it is crucial to remove dead and hazardous trees for a multitude of reasons, especially safety. Failure of trees in a dense, urban environment such as Miami Beach can cause injury, death, or property damage.

The Miami Beach Tree Preservation Trust Fund was created for the purpose of accepting and disbursing the replacement fees paid to the City of Miami Beach as part of tree work permits and any other monies deposited with the Environment and Sustainability Department for tree preservation purposes. Per Sec. 46-65. (4) (d) The trust funds must be used to obtain trees, landscaping, irrigation systems, and any other items or materials necessary and proper for the preservation, maintenance, relocation or restoration of trees and the urban forest on any publicly owned land or publicly accessible parcels in Miami Beach. Further, the trust funds may also be expended for similar programs approved by the City Commission.