KISSIMMEE, Fla. – As the population increases, the demand for buildings and roadways rises, but as this growth could come at the expense of the environment, some cities and counties are working to expand tree cover.

In Kissimmee, 200 trees were recently planted at Pioneer Village to celebrate Earth Month. This initiative is part of both the city’s and Osceola County’s sustainability efforts.

Viviana Janer, chair of the Osceola County Commission and District 2 commissioner, emphasized the importance of these efforts.

“We’re very committed to sustainability,” she said. “What we’re doing is planting trees from Osceola County’s tree farm.”

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Trees play a crucial role in the environment. They provide oxygen, lower air temperatures, reduce pollution and expand wildlife habitats. In Osceola County, the need for trees is heightened due to development.

“We’ve got one of the highest growing counties, population-wise. That means a lot of construction and a lot of houses. What we’re trying to do is reforest the county to give people that quality of life that you see in places that have had trees for a long time,” Osceola County Director of Parks and Public Lands Jason Hickson said.

Sustainable tourism is also a priority. Jason Holic, chief of Destination Stewardship for Experience Kissimmee, shared insights from research on the topic.

“Visitors, especially from international points of origin, want to ensure that when they visit, the destination takes the environment seriously, which we have a strong track record of doing here in Osceola County,” he explained.

In 2022, Osceola County adopted an Urban Forest Management Plan aimed at increasing tree supply. This plan includes tree giveaway programs, planting along rights-of-ways, expanding the county’s tree farm and ongoing tree maintenance.

Kissimmee is also promoting eco-tourism. The city collaborates with “Trees4Travel” to encourage people to visit the destination while also reducing their carbon footprint.

“Only 50 percent of the world’s forests remain and since the ‘60s, we’ve actually lost 73 percent of our wildlife,” Trees4Travel CEO Nico Nicolas said.

The company calculates the carbon emissions generated by groups traveling to the area. The company then plants the number of trees needed to offset that pollution while investing in renewable energy that is United Nations Certified. Since partnering in 2023, the city of Kissimmee has planted over 100,000 trees.

“It’s actually, really important for educational purposes. If people see this, they understand how important tree planting is, it makes people wake up and recognize that we can’t keep just taking trees and chopping them down and not replacing them,” Nicolas said.

If you want to do your part to help increase the state’s tree canopy, you are encouraged to visit your city or county website, as many offer free trees for residents.