Rooted In Newark - Tree Canopy Initiative

In a recent public Zoom session hosted by the City of Newark–City Hall, Dr. Michel Boufadel, the director of the Center for Natural Resources (CNR), joined Mayor Ras J. Baraka of Newark, Nicole Hewitt Cabral, the Chief Sustainability Officer, and Ryan Metz, the Tree Superintendent, to discuss Newark’s bold new urban forestry strategy.

Ms. Nicole Cabral outlined the Rooted in Newark initiative as the city-led effort to create a cooler, cleaner, greener, and healthier Newark. She emphasized, “Our top priority right now is our Rooted in Newark initiative which is about amplifying our tree canopy coverage in partnership with residents, research institutions like NJIT, and other nonprofits.”

During this virtual town hall, Mayor Baraka questioned whether the claims about trees improving air quality and reducing temperatures were truly science-based. In response, Dr. Boufadel affirmed, “Trees cool their surroundings not only through shade but also through evapotranspiration”—a process that draws heat from the air as water evaporates from leaves, similar to how evaporation cools skin.”

He emphasized that trees trap dust and pollutants on their leaves, preventing them from entering our lungs, and help manage stormwater by allowing it to percolate through uncovered soil. Dr. Boufadel also highlighted CNR NJIT’s role in modeling tree canopy coverage using satellite data and local sensors to monitor changes in temperature and air quality.

He concluded by noting that this collaborative effort with the City of Newark, Princeton, and Rutgers is unprecedented in the U.S., marking Newark as a national leader in urban climate resilience.

View the full meeting video here.

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