The Woodlands tackles tree loss From the cover
The big picture
The Woodland Township reforestation in 2025
Invasive vine maintenance Resident-requested planting Township-planned planting
The Woodlands Township is looking to new funding avenues and sustainability e orts for its communitywide treescapes as increasing severe weather and invasive species infestations are creating challenges in forestry. Since 2023, the township board of directors has invested $1 million annually in reforestation e orts, aiming to plant nearly 6,000 trees a year. However, in the same timeframe, tree removal costs tripled to over $2 million annually. Before 2023, the township planted 3,000 trees annually, Nunes said. “It’s not just, ‘Go plant 5,000 trees in all these locations.’ That is a lot of work,” Nunes said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re keeping up the trees, and, more importantly, keeping up the 6,000 trees we just planted this year as well as the year before and the 3,000 a year before that.” The township is focused on removing invasive vines and reforesting damaged areas, an initiative aimed at increasing the survivability of trees.
1488
45
242
VISION PARK BLVD.
WOODLANDS PKWY.
STERLING RIDGE DR.
COCHRANS CROSSING DR.
LAKE WOODLANDS DR.
RESEARCH FOREST DR.
New trees are split into three main priorities, with 8%-10% kept in reserve annually:
GROGANS MILL RD.
BRANCH CROSSING DR.
LAKE WOODLANDS
FLINTRIDGE DR.
2978
43% Resident- requested trees 30% Reforested vined areas 19% Township
GLEN LOCH DR.
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parks and pathways
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SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT
The cost
Things to know
Nunes said the jump in costs for tree removal and forest management—which oversees all other tree management eorts—is directly related to drought and severe weather conditions. “There has been a slight decline in [tree] surviv- ability in recent years, largely due to intensied weather extremes, drought and invasive species pressures,” Nunes said.
The township plants a variety of native trees and shrubs in the area to create levels of forest cover, including a canopy and underbrush. However, some key invasive species have also played a greater part in forest maintenance issues.
Native species
White oaks White oak trees provide dense foliage and are an alternative to species like the Chinese Tallow.
Slash pine Native to The Woodlands and East Texas, slash pine trees are evergreen, meaning they will retain their foliage year round.
Dogwood tree A owering variety, dogwood trees are classied as underbrush trees and ll in space left by canopy trees such as pines.
Tree removal expenses
Tree removal
Forest management*
2020
+607% from 2020-24
$393,260 $371,000
2021
+160.3% from 2020-24
$376,517 $330,565
Invasive species
Vines Vines can wrap around trees, restricting airow and sunlight, while adding additional weight to trees.
Southern pine beetle The insects burrow primarily into pine trees, structurally destabilizing the tree by causing rot.
Chinese tallow tree The invasive tree reproduces rapidly and from tree clippings, allowing it to become a dominant species in an area.
2022
$426,671
$79,902
2023
$2.2M
$401,147
2024
$2.78M
$965,875
*INCLUDES OTHER TYPES OF TREE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING WATERING
SOURCES: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICECOMMUNITY IMPACT
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