District's tree grade drops to B-; Washington, DC

District's tree grade drops to B- - News:
A local non-profit lowered D.C.'s 2009 tree grade last month from a B to a B-, citing confusion among District agencies about tree policies and lags in federally mandated provisions for tree protection and expansion.

Casey Trees' report card is the only independent evaluation of the District's tree canopy and the only independent tree assessment of a city in the United States, according to its website. The grade is based on the amount of tree cover, the condition of the trees, the number of trees planted, the knowledge and participation in tree-related issues and the regulatory and voluntary measures to protect trees.