Heritage Trees

The trees that were already here

Before LVAS plants a single new tree, we document and protect the mature trees already giving Southern Nevada neighborhoods their canopy.

The Heritage Tree Registry identifies, maps, and advocates for legacy trees at risk from development, drought stress, or removal.

Registry Map

No heritage trees have been documented yet — nominate the first one below.

Age

Trees that predate the surrounding development, or are otherwise unusually mature for the species and site.

Size

Trunk diameter, canopy spread, or height well above what's typical for the species in Southern Nevada conditions.

Species significance

Uncommon, declining, or particularly well-adapted desert species worth documenting as a regional example.

Historical or community value

Trees tied to a neighborhood's founding, a notable event, or simply long-standing community memory.

A tree doesn’t need to meet every criterion — one strong factor (e.g. exceptional age) is often enough to warrant review.

If a heritage tree is threatened by development or an HOA landscaping dispute, LVAS can help residents make the case for keeping it:

Documentation support — photos, measurements, and a written significance statement residents can bring to an HOA board or planning meeting.
A model letter template residents can adapt when writing to a developer, HOA board, or local planning department.
Referrals to Nevada arborists for a professional health/risk assessment when a removal is being justified on safety grounds.
Introductions to other Southern Nevada neighborhoods that have successfully preserved a heritage tree through a similar dispute.

Reach out to chapters@lvarborsociety.org as early as possible — advocacy is far more effective before a removal decision is finalized.

Know a tree that belongs in the registry? Tell us about it.