Three universities tapped to support Miami tree advisors

Written by Genevieve Bowen on May 20, 2026

As Miami confronts mounting heat and shrinking shade coverage, the city has launched a resident-led tree advisory committee, with Florida International University and the University of Miami expected to play consulting roles in the canopy review.

On May 14, the Miami City Commission approved the creation of the Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee and moved to involve FIU and UM as experts on urban forestry, canopy preservation and environmental resilience.

The new 10-member resident board will help shape future city policies surrounding tree preservation and canopy growth as Miami faces increasing pressure to balance rapid development with neighborhood livability, shade equity and rising temperatures.

The committee is part of a larger city initiative started last year to rethink how Miami protects and expands its urban canopy at a time residents and environmental advocates have raised growing concerns about tree loss in the city.

In July 2025, Miami hired The Consensus Center at Florida State University to oversee public engagement surrounding potential changes to the city’s tree protections after months of public frustration and debate over how development is reshaping neighborhood landscapes.

Under the city’s agreement with FSU, the outreach includes stakeholder interviews, public workshops in each commission district and a final report summarizing community feedback and policy recommendations. The second phase extends the university’s involvement into drafting potential code changes and facilitating additional workshops as needed.

The newly approved advisory committee now becomes the public-facing centerpiece of that effort. Over the coming months, commissioners are expected to appoint members and begin convening the board, which will review technical data, community feedback, policy proposals and urban forestry practices before developing recommendations for the commission.

Assistant Building Director Melissa Fernandez-Stiers told commissioners last week that the city has already done roughly a dozen interviews involving environmental advocates and community members active in the debate over Miami’s tree protections.

“We have nine out of the 10 appointments,” Ms. Fernandez-Stiers said, adding that the city expects to formally convene the committee by late June or early July before launching a first round of public workshops this summer.

Those workshops will gather input from residents, advocacy groups, businesses and neighborhood organizations before the advisory committee evaluates policy approaches and brings them to the public for a second round of discussions. Draft recommendations to the commission are tentatively expected by mid-2027, staff said.

Much of last week’s commission discussion centered on ensuring Miami-based universities would play a substantive role in the process beyond public participation alone.

Commissioner Christine King, who said residents frequently approach her about tree preservation, pushed staff to clarify FIU’s involvement after learning the university’s participation would initially be voluntary.

“It’s important for me to make sure that the advisory committee is working in tandem with FIU and staff to make sure that we have a tree ordinance that makes sense for everyone,” Ms. King said.

She added that FIU should formally serve as a consultant rather than simply participate informally alongside other stakeholders. “FSU are acting as mediators,” Ms. King said. “FIU is going to, for what I intended, to serve as subject matter experts to help guide the discussions with the advisory committee.”

Ms. King also tied the debate to the city’s intensifying heat and uneven canopy coverage between neighborhoods.

“The other day I went out, walked into a store, walked outside, and it felt like I walked into an oven, and it’s only May,” she said. “We have to make sure that we get this tree ordinance correct, and we have to continue to plant trees.”

Commissioner Damian Pardo echoed support for involving local universities.

“We are very, very protective and want to grow our tree canopies,” Mr. Pardo said. “FIU participation would be fantastic … and I would love the University of Miami to be a participant and to be able to weigh in on these issues. They have very good expertise … and are the ones in the best position to do it.”

City Manager James Reyes assured commissioners the administration would work to formally involve both FIU and UM. The amended resolution passed 3-0, with Commissioners King and Rosado recusing themselves because of their affiliations with FIU.

Once operational, the advisory committee will hold publicly noticed meetings and accept oral and written public comment as it develops recommendations on how Miami should protect, maintain and expand its urban canopy.