The Bay Village Tree Conservancy educates and encourages community residents to preserve and care for trees, identifies suitable tree-planting sites, advocates for tree-protection policies, and supports partnerships to protect and augment community trees and habitats.
Help our cause by volunteering or donating to the Bay Village Tree Conservancy efforts.
WHAT WE AIM TO DO — Preserve, protect, and restore BV's tree canopy through education, tree assessment programs, tree planting programs.
The Bay Village Tree Conservancy—a citizen-run 501c(3) nonprofit founded and managed by longtime Bay Village residents—advocates for timely and proactive legacy tree assessment and preservation efforts and the prompt replacement of weakening or removed legacy trees on private property. BVTC supports and encourages community-wide efforts to sustain and restore our beautiful and beneficial tree canopy, and educates residents on planting, preserving, and caring for trees.
This is how we ensure future generations can enjoy the same benefits Bay Village’s strong tree canopy has provided for over 200 years.
Learn how to be a tree advocate.
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Preserving our trees with knowledge and attention.
It's all about planting new canopy trees.
Over the past decade, Bay Village has lost an estimated 9% of its tree canopy, with clear-cutting, extreme weather, and silent removals happening right in our backyards.
In just one day—August 6, 2024—a tornado wiped out over 70 mature canopy trees from West Oakland Road alone.
•🚫 Many trees are removed without replacement.
•🚫 Non-approved companies are felling native species.
•🚫 New construction often clears lots without replanting.
All the while, most homeowners aren’t replanting. And that’s a problem—for our community, our climate, and our children.
The value of our urban forest is massive:
‍•🌿 $941,856 in annual environmental benefits
•💧 14 million gallons of stormwater absorbed each year
•💨 963 tons of CO₂ captured annually
•🏡 Higher property values and better mental health
Bay Village is experiencing a significant decline in its tree canopy, a trend that mirrors challenges faced by many communities in Northeastern Ohio. Between 2011 and 2017, the city lost approximately 8.5% of its tree canopy, a rate higher than the county average.
This loss is attributed to factors such as clearcutting for development and the gradual removal of trees on individual properties. The consequences of this canopy reduction are profound. Trees play a crucial role in enhancing property values, improving air quality, reducing energy costs, and providing habitats for wildlife.
Their absence not only diminishes the aesthetic appeal of our neighborhoods but also impacts environmental and human health.In response to this pressing issue, the Bay Village Tree Conservancy (BV Trees) is committed to preserving and restoring the city's tree canopy. Our initiatives focus on planting native trees, educating residents about the importance of trees, and advocating for policies that protect our urban forest.
To help better determine the canopy benefits, we use iTrees Tools to better analyze their advantages.
Bay Village’s Tree Scoreboard
•Current Canopy: 29.82%
•Plantable Space Available: 1,345 acres
Canopy Potential: A 10% increase =
•+$52,497 in yearly benefits
•+3,474 tons carbon stored
•+1.4 million gallons of stormwater absorbed
•+7,267 lbs of air pollution removed
Normandy Rd. resident
Canterbury Road resident
Saddler Rd. resident
Fortunately, protecting and restoring the canopy is readily achievable with education, resources, community support, and dedication.
Every resident of Bay Village has a stake in preserving our tree canopy. By supporting BVTC and joining our efforts, you'll be part of a dedicated team determined to sustain and preserve our residential forest. Let's plant a tree together.
BVTC's Plant-A-Tree “WIN/WIN SAVINGS PROGRAM” — Our Win/Win Program for Bay Village residents makes planting trees simple and affordable. With this incentive, everyone can be part of restoring Bay’s tree canopy.
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Financial and logistical support from BVTC — If you want to plant a tree on your property, BVTC invites you to participate in the “Win/Win” Program.
When program participants pay BVTC just $327.00 (just part of the average local retail cost of purchasing, delivering, and planting a canopy-scale tree on their property), BVTC will source and deliver appropriate trees and expert planting services at no additional cost—saving the homeowner a substantial amount on  retail tree-planting costs. This program is available to all Bay residents for approved tree varieties, subject to some limitations. Trees to be planted will average 1.75 - 2.0 inch caliper and 8 - 10+ feet tall when planted. Plantings will occur seasonally in groups, so sign up now. Â
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BVTC encourages tree assessments by TRAQ-certified arborists so residents can understand the safety and health of their trees, wisely decide on appropriate tree care, and avoid tree removal. If you need a tree assessment, we'll connect you with recommended experts who can reveal your tree's condition—and help save money by avoiding tree-removal costs. The Win/Win Program may soon extend to tree-assessment costs as well (when BVTC funding permits and sufficient interest exists).
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Here’s how to participate in the Win/Win Program — Simply submit your email request by clicking below. We’ll contact you directly to review Program details and your property’s planting or assessment needs. BVTC carefully examines every opportunity to support restoration of the canopy in Bay. Let’s plant or save a tree together!
*The Win/Win program is subject to and conditioned on available program funding (so do your part and donate today).
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 6:30PM — Bay Village Police Community Room
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Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, 6:30PM — Bay Village Police Community Room
Each upcoming BVTC forum will present important issues for Bay residents concerning the health, maintenance, and restoration of our tree canopy, and what we as a community can do, and are doing, to correct course. Attendees will have an opportunity to share concerns, questions, and ideas.
We look forward to briefing the community on BVTC activity, committee program developments, accomplishments, and new opportunities for community involvement in canopy restoration projects.
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BVTC Participated in the planting of 18 Oak & Maple trees this fall & winter. These were planted onto private land with the help of local donations and support.
See some of our dedicated volunteers & donators in action.
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Our annual goal for Bay Village
• Plant 25 – 50 new canopy-scale trees, especially in areas with heavy canopy loss.
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How will BVTC use the funds you donate?
• Donations in any amount are welcome and appreciated.
• Donors can request that funds donated be dedicated to a particular BVTC program or to pay for the plantings.
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Funds donated are used for direct support of tree plantings and tree assessment services, and for educational and advocacy activities. 90% of funds donated go into the community to support property-owner efforts to maintain and restore the canopy. Under 10% of donated funds will finance BVTC’s administration and management. All BVTC’s directors, executive committee members, and committee members volunteer their time and energy to ensure program objectives are attained. The BVTC website is fully secure and conforms to all industry standard protocols to ensure the safety of financial information.
BVTC is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Your donation makes all the difference in funding our mission. See what your contribution helps plant!
Through December 2024, BVTC has already planted 14 canopy-scale trees in Bay Village. While that's a great start, tree loss in Bay accelerates every month and we have a lot of tree-planting catch-up to do! Planting 100+ new trees each year is our long-term goal.