Is Sarasota Selby Gardens falling short of the city’s tree canopy cover goal?

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ downtown Sarasota campus is falling short of the city’s tree canopy coverage goal of 40%, according to American Forests.

Tree coverage, which is the footprint of tree crowns when viewed from above, is just 30% at the 15-acre botanical gardens hugging Sarasota Bay, data from the conservation nonprofit shows.

Sarasota city documents cite a tree canopy coverage goal of 40%, which is also the national standard. The Selby plan in its current iteration may dwarf this number as builders cut down more trees for construction. 

Sarasota’s city planning board approved the second phase of Selby Gardens expansion plan in August. 

It will focus on building a new conservatory complex, learning pavilion and adding “strategic landscape features” to its downtown Sarasota campus.

Selby Gardens has two campuses (one downtown and another in Osprey) that encompass 45 acres.