Atlanta is losing tree canopy the size of six Centennial Parks every year

A Georgia Tech assessment commissioned by Atlanta City Council found the city lost an average of nearly 150 acres of tree canopy a year between 2008 and 2023, an area more than six times the size of Centennial Olympic Park annually.

Canopy coverage fell from 47.9% in 2008 to 45.7% in 2023, and researchers led by professor Tony Giarrusso estimate the city's "true" usable canopy, once young pines and invasive growth are excluded, at closer to 44.5%. Multifamily housing construction was the single largest driver, tied to 94 separate areas where at least 1.5 acres of canopy vanished, followed closely by single-family development and redevelopment.

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