(Miami, FL) – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz proposed the first ever City-wide Tree Master Plan during today’s City Commission meeting. With the support of city commissioners and collaboration of the administration, the plan creates minimum standards in order to enhance, restore and stabilize the City’s tree canopy cover by a minimum of 30 percent by 2020. Additionally, the plan includes an urban eco-system analysis, the required professional certification of city staff and vendors; as well as an educational and awareness campaign highlighting: “hurricane horticulture” information, installation and maintenance facts, guidance on tree selection.

“This plan is just one part of the three-pronged environmental strategy for our city,” said Mayor Diaz. “In addition to addressing our tree canopy needs, we will shortly propose green building legislation and green-friendly practices within the city’s own operations in an effort to provide sustainable growth for generations to come.”

During the past five years, Mayor Diaz has launched a proactive and ambitious environmental program to clean streets, waterways, brown fields, storm drains, as well as improve air and water quality.

Mayor Diaz was also one of the first United States mayors to sign the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement through which cities commit to take actions to reduce global warming pollution by striving to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement setting targets for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.