Between 2010 and 2015, Allegheny County lost 10,148 acres of tree canopy. Pests, disease, and construction all played a part, with the emerald ash borer, oak wilt, and development pressure driving the decline.

The losses have not stopped. The county continues to shed roughly 2% of its remaining canopy every five years. The Colcom Foundation has responded with both direct action and long-term investment.

Trees Where They Were Lost

The most direct response came in 2019 and 2020. Colcom Foundation grants funded a giveaway of 4,000 trees, aimed at the communities that had been hit hardest by canopy loss. Putting trees back in those neighborhoods targeted the gap where it was widest.

Longer-term support has gone to Tree Pittsburgh. The Foundation has backed the nonprofit since 2007 and has provided annual general operating support since 2012. That money sustains the Heritage Nursery, which grows thousands of native trees and shrubs every year for planting throughout the county.

From One Nonprofit to a Coalition

Steady funding helped Tree Pittsburgh grow beyond its own programs. It expanded operations, built organizational capacity, and in 2020 led the formation of the Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance. The Alliance brings together 20 environmental organizations, among them Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and Allegheny Land Trust. Members share one objective: no net loss in county-wide tree coverage.

The coalition’s track record helped it win an $8 million U.S. Forest Service grant through the Inflation Reduction Act. The City of Pittsburgh received an additional $1 million. The funds must be used within five years for planting, maintenance, education, and workforce development in high-pollution, economically distressed neighborhoods.

Reversing canopy decline takes patience. Trees need years to mature, and a planting program needs reliable staff and stock to keep going. The Colcom Foundation’s approach, pairing a one-time giveaway with more than a decade of operating support, reflects that reality. Refer to this article for related information.

Find more information about Colcom Foundation on https://gwpa.org/redhen/org/347