Mission Statement
The Metro Tree Advisory Committee's mission, working closely with city departments and non-profit partners, is to recommend tree policies, educate the community about the benefits of trees and proper tree planting and care, and promote tree planting and preservation.
MTAC Awards of Merit
These awards are for residential and commercial construction and planting projects completed during the preceding 3 years. Award presentations are part of the annual Metro Nashville Arbor Day Ceremony, attended by the mayor.
Residential: This award recognizes an individual or firm within Nashville that has followed or exceeded the spirit and intention of the Metro Nashville Tree Ordinance.
Commercial: The George H. Cate, Jr. Award recognizes an individual or firm within Nashville that has followed or exceeded the spirit and intention of the Metro Nashville Tree Ordinance.
George H. Cate, Jr. served the citizens of Nashville as a former Metro Councilman and Vice Mayor and who was a long-term advocate and proponent of the value and benefits of Nashville’s trees.
General criteria considered in the judging for these awards include:
- Impact on the immediate site for storm water mitigation, energy savings, or related environmental benefits
- Preservation and proper protection of pre-existing quality trees on the site
- Proper planning – Quality landscape plans with due considerations of the location of utilities and accurate execution of these plans
- Use of plant species and cultivars appropriate for the site and plant hardiness zone
- Use of proper planting procedures with appropriate mulch
- Proper facilities for adequate watering the plant material
- Proper continuing maintenance
Send Nominations to [email protected] by 5:00 pm, January 15, 2026.
Include the following information: Name of Property Owner/Development, Address, Phone, and Photos. Also include Nominator, Title, Phone and email. Questions: 615-862-8708
Arbor Day
Nashville celebrates Arbor Day, in early spring, and receives its Tree City USA and Tree Line USA recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Metro Tree Advisory Committee presents an award for any development which exceeds the spirit of the Tree Ordinance. Students read their winning essays on trees, tree art is on display, and trees are planted in honor or memory of Nashvillians.
Free Trees
The Metro Tree Advisory Committee distributes free tree seedlings and provides expert tree advise each year at the annual Metro Nashville Arbor Day Ceremony.
Historic & Specimen Trees Program
There are countless of reasons why a tree could be considered special in some way, and this program sets out the guidelines as well as the process to formally designate a tree as Historic.
Tree Talk with the Metro Tree Advisory Committee
On Demand Webinars with the Metro Tree Advisory Committee
Nashville Tree Organizations
Root Nashville is Nashville’s public-private campaign to plant 500,000 trees by 2050.
Organizations involved in tree education, planting, and care in Nashville include: