Sustainability advisory board urges aggressive tree-canopy target and green-building goals

Anthony Riggi, speaking for the Sustainability Advisory Board at the March 25 workshop, urged the City Council to treat tree canopy expansion as a high-priority, low-cost strategy to reduce heat islands, sequester carbon and improve quality of life in Boca Raton.

"Our goal is 28% by 2041, 50,000 trees, over that time, or 2,500 trees annually over the next 20 years," Riggi said, laying out a numeric target that the board favors. He emphasized the need to account for attrition from storms and development, to map underground infrastructure so the right species are planted in the right places, and to focus on native plants and biodiversity.

Riggi highlighted strategies discussed by the board and consultants including urban-tree-canopy assessments completed in 2021 and pilot concepts such as Miyawaki (micro-forest) plantings, more aggressive tree giveaways and municipal coordination with homeowners' associations. He described waste reduction and single-use-plastics reduction as complementary priorities for protecting waterways and wildlife.

Council members thanked Riggi and the advisory board for the presentation and asked staff follow-ups. Deputy Mayor Mayotte and others suggested adding language-access resources and neighborhood outreach; Council Member Wigdor recommended staff report back on the city's electric-fleet adoption and how that fits the Race to 0 goals. Several councilors asked staff to explore LEED-for-cities certification or equivalent third-party standards.

Local sustainability and conservation groups in the audience voiced support for prioritizing native plant palettes and tying canopy goals to community programs. "Native plants will help us get that biodiversity back," Michael Coner of the Florida Native Plant Society told the council during public comment.

Next steps discussed: staff mapping of underground infrastructure to support tree planting, expanded outreach to HOAs and neighborhoods, translation and accessibility for community events, and potential integration of canopy targets into city strategic planning and the Race to 0 work plan.

Why this matters: Tree canopy and green-building measures can lower local temperatures, reduce building energy use, improve walkability and add economic value to neighborhoods. The advisory board offered a measurable target and actionable suggestions; councilors asked staff to return with implementation options and resource implications.