Meet Fast Forward Presenter >> Marcus Ferreira

What is your Big Idea for Philadelphia?

How to Increase the Philadelphia Tree Canopy - Overcoming Obstacles to a Greener City

Philadelphia has a tree canopy of 20%, the lowest in the northeastern United States. The city 's goal is to expand the canopy to 30%. With overall temperatures predicted to increase by 2° Fahrenheit by 2035 and dramatic disparities in canopy coverage within the city itself, leading to 20° summertime temperature differentials between neighborhoods and even blocks, achieving the city-wide goal is critical for our collective health, functionality and wellness as a city moving forward.

However, despite being more than half way into a million tree planting campaign, little progress been made, due to attrition. Marcus Ferreira, as a citizen volunteer, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Tree Tender leader offers his insights as to the best means to minimize tree canopy loss and to reforest William Penn's greene country towne.

marcus.sosnagreen(at)gmail.com

Marcus Ferreira founded the burgeoning UrbanPHL Facebook Group and serves as the Chair of the South Street West Business Association. He serves on both the SOSNA Zoning and Grays Ferry Triangles Committees and heads the SOSNA Green Tree Tending Group, while also serving as the co-chair of the PHS Tree Tender Steering Committee. For his various contributions to Southwest Center City, has been recognized as the SOSNA volunteer of the Year (2015). Marcus, a litigator by day, holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and a Master's in City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University. 

Marcus was just named a 2019 Certificate of Merit winner by PHS: https://phsonline.org/get-involved/profiles?bblinkid=176013704&bbemailid=15109234&bbejrid=1163364671

To learn more about the PHS Tree Tender program and to support their More Trees Please initiative please visit: https://phsonline.org/programs/tree-tenders/ and https://phsonline.org/ways-to-give/more-trees-please