Tell the Heat to

Beat It.

Areas with less tree canopy are 10 degrees hotter or more – a serious health hazard. Alarmingly, Columbia’s tree canopy shrank by nearly a quarter between 2005 and 2019.

You can help with Beat the Heat – Plant a Tree.

Here’s a Cool Opportunity 

If you own a property in greater Columbia, you could receive a shade tree at no cost, plus a rain diaper to reduce maintenance.

Tell your neighbors. Tell your friends.

The goal is to plant thousands of new shade trees in greater Columbia over the next five years. 

BEAT THE HEAT is a partnership between Columbia Green and the City of Columbia to GIVE AWAY shade trees to property owners in greater Columbia to aleviate urban heat and improve air quality.

We provide free, quarterly educational events where you can come to learn from professional arborists about the benefits of urban trees and how to plant them and care for them.

Since our kickoff in July, we have given away over 1,000 trees to property owners in greater Columbia.

Why Plant a Shade Tree?

Trees are so chill:

  • Trees help to lower stress levels and reduce heart and lower-respiratory-tract illnesses (Donovan et al. 2013).

  • Tree shade can reduce annual A/C energy by 10%-50% (Pandit and Laband 2010). 

  • Leaves capture airborne particulates, air pollution, and carbon dioxide (Sander et al. 2010) 

What trees are available?

During our educational events, you can talk to an expert and select your first, second, and third choice from a variety of trees.

Watch for our next educational event scheduled in early May! 

Beat the Heat is a partnership between the City of Columbia, Public Works Forestry & Beautification Division, and Columbia Green, a nonprofit whose mission is to optimize the environment to enhance the quality of life in the greater Columbia area.   Trees are funded through grants and private donations to Columbia Green, with in-kind support provided by the City of Columbia.