Municipal Forestry in the City of North Las Vegas

Municipal forestry refers to the management of forests and woods owned by a city or town. The City of North Las Vegas has implemented a Municipal Forestry program for its many benefits.

The many benefits of incorporating more trees include:

Meet Eddie Rodriguez, our Municipal Forester and

Certified Arborist WE-3916A

As Municipal Forester Eddie manages and maintains all of the trees in the City of North Las Vegas. His primary job is tree sustainability, he does this by applying tree preservation techniques, mitigating urban heat islands, examining air quality, assessing tree health, and managing potential risks.

Eddie has over 20 years experience of working with trees. Eddie’s priority is his 2032 tree planting goal. According to Eddie, the number of trees to plant in North Las Vegas is “whatever it takes,” to positively impact the City.

Future Municipal Forestry Projects Include:
Tree Preservation Ordinances
Alexander Library Planting Project
First Annual 2024 Arbor Day Celebration
National Recognition by Tree City USA
First Tree Inventory and Canopy Study
Urban Forest Management Plan

Using Advanced Technology to Inventory Trees and Manage Our Urban Forest

Trees and shrubs play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of our community and residents, and in a desert setting, the benefits go well beyond simply adding shade. The City of North Las Vegas is working with Davey Resource Group (DRG), the global leader in Urban Forestry services, and greehill, a technology provider focused on Urban Forestry, to count the number of trees and analyze each one to allow for proactive maintenance and determine if there is an inventory deficiency. 

Using LiDAR, Light Detection and Ranging, to measure distances with a laser and create high-resolution 3D models, DRG and greehill are precisely mapping the location and measurements of North Las Vegas’ trees. The trees and corresponding planning efforts can then be managed using “TreeKeeper” software from DRG. 

The combined Urban Forestry solutions provide a wide variety of data, including a tree’s leaning angle, interior decay and clearance hazards, among others. The City’s Municipal Forestry program will use the findings to ensure its trees are hearty and abundant. 

These efforts align with goals from the City of North Las Vegas Strategic Plan 2025-2030 – Community Health and Well-being. 

City of North Las Vegas Tree Giveaway with Nevada Plants

An Arbor Day Poem

While Arbor Day is an important reminder about the necessity of trees for the well-being of our community, the City of North Las Vegas is committed to year-round efforts to improve the area's heat island effect. Here is an original poem about how vital trees are from City employee Veronica Freeman.