Orange County Launches 'OC Loves Trees' Programme on Arbor Day 2026

Orange County, Florida officially launched its 'OC Loves Trees' tree-planting initiative on Arbor Day (April 24, 2026) with a ceremony at Great Oaks Village, led by Mayor Jerry L. Demings. The programme plans to plant hundreds of native trees countywide over several years to expand the urban forest canopy, funded through a 2024 updated Arbor Ordinance that requires developers to either preserve mature trees on-site, replant more trees than removed, or contribute to a county tree-planting fund for public spaces and underserved neighbourhoods. The initiative exemplifies a growing US municipal trend of pairing development impact fees with proactive urban reforestation targets. Arbor Day 2026 coincided with a wider US urban forestry push, with dozens of cities across the country launching or expanding canopy programmes on the same date.