On Dec. 18, 2015, the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) hosted the first-ever tree summit. At the summit, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the launch of Canopy 3,000. The program is a short-term public-private partnership aimed at expanding the number of trees planted on private property and public spaces throughout the district.

Canopy 3,000 members include DOEE, District Department of Transportation, National Park Service, District Department of Parks and Recreation, Casey Trees, Washington Parks and People, AECOM, American University, American Society of Landscape Architects, DC Baptist Convention, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Members of Canopy 3,000 will develop a plan for planting an additional 3000 trees in the district in 2016. Mayor Bowser announced that the district would contribute $400,000 in seed funding, enough to plant more than 1300 trees.

Mayor Bowser also announced the establishment of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee to expand coordination and assist the district in meeting its Sustainable DC goal to achieve a 40% healthy tree canopy by 2032. The Urban Forestry Advisory Committee will help identify ways to remove barriers to planting trees; help educate residents and businesses on the benefits of trees; and will provide an opportunity for local and federal officials, utilities, and experts in the field to exchanged ideas and best practices.