Las Vegas Initiatives: Free Trees Distributed to Combat Extreme Heat

Las Vegas is distributing free trees, along with planting and irrigation systems, to residents in certain neighborhoods to combat extreme heat. The initiative targets individuals living in the central and east Las Vegas areas, specifically in ZIP codes 89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107, and 89110.

Residents can receive two drought-tolerant shade trees as part of the Community Canopy Project. This project aims to reduce heat and improve air quality, addressing the urban heat islands that cause temperatures to rise by as much as nine degrees in these areas.

The city plans to plant 60,000 trees by 2050, and the current effort is funded by a $5 million grant from the federal government. This initiative comes in response to rising heat-related illnesses and fatalities, with 279 Clark County residents reported to have died from heat-related causes in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the coroner's office.

The distribution of 2,300 trees began in October 2024, coinciding with an event in Henderson where 30 trees were planted at a city park. Interested residents can apply for the program at lasvegasnevada.gov/trees, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.