The Miami-Dade County will distribute more than 2,500 trees for free this Sunday during the third "Adopt a Tree" event of the season, which will take place at the Miami Zoo, located at 12400 SW 152nd St.
According to the official statement, the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:30 a.m. or until supplies last, with free parking for all attendees.
The trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, without pre-registration guaranteeing availability, although it does help to verify the applicant's eligibility.
Homeowners of single-family homes and duplexes in the county will be able to participate; residents of apartments and mobile home parks do not qualify for the program.
Each eligible household can receive up to two free trees, and veterans and active-duty military personnel who present identification will have an expedited adoption process.
The available species for this edition include grafted mango, soursop, sugar-apple, jaboticaba, achacha and other tropical and native varieties such as Crabwood, Jamaican Caper Tree, Simpson's Stopper, and Spanish Stopper.
In addition to trees, attendees will be able to adopt a pet through Miami-Dade Animal Services and exchange up to two low-efficiency showerheads and three incandescent light bulbs for high-efficiency versions—low-flow showerheads and LED bulbs—as long as supplies last.
The Adopt-a-Tree program was launched in July 2001 after an analysis revealed that the unincorporated areas of the county had only a 10% tree canopy coverage, with some areas at just 1% or 2%.
Since its inception, the initiative has provided over 250,000 trees to county residents, establishing itself as one of the longest-running environmental programs in the region.
The event on Sunday is part of the Urban Forestry Plan of the county, which aims to achieve 30% tree coverage within the urban development limits by 2030, up from the current 20%.
Since 2023, the county has planted over 20,000 trees under this plan, which also prioritizes neighborhoods with lower coverage, where heat and climate vulnerability are more pronounced.
Pre-registration for the event this Sunday is now open on the official county website, although it does not guarantee the availability of trees or specific species.
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