142- Achieving Tree Equity with American Forests

Why is tree equity important? They are just trees, right? So what? They don’t impact health, wealth, quality of life? They just look good!Well, in fact trees do ALL of these things. They drastically reduce deadly heatwaves, reduce breathing problems, shelter your home from the elements, reduce drainage costs, increase your mood, and save you money in all kinds of other ways. Now a new tool shows us which communities are receiving these benefits and which are not. Urban communities in particular are dangerously low on tree cover. We can help deliver basic human rights to those that need it just by planting trees. ResourcesAmerican ForestsSponsorsWest FraserGreenLink Forestry Inc.Quotes10.45 - 10.54: “Trees are important for people and… they are [an] essential part of our climate justice conversations and our health justice conversations.” TakeawaysData can be democratized (03.47)Benita explains that American Forests is focusing on ensuring tree equity in urban areas. so that all communities can benefit from greenery.  Tree equity (07.19)Julia points out that the Tree Equity Score tool makes it visually apparent using maps that the lack of greenery in poorer communities is a national issue.Social and climate injustices (11.50)Neighbourhoods with the fewest residents of colour tend to have 3 times more tree canopy per person and are 3 degrees cooler. Areas with the lowest poverty rates have double the tree canopy per person and are 6 degrees cooler than areas with the highest poverty rates.Trees are the jack of all trades (14.29)Julia highlights that trees provide many different benefits to communities, including heat regulation, absorption of pollution and mental health. Baseline tree cover (22.18)Benita celebrates the 1.5 billion dollars of funding American Forests has unlocked in partnership with US Forests towards protection and maintenance of trees in urban communities to ensure tree equity. Broadening horizons (28.29)Benita talks about how a big part of their work is to involve local communities in the conversation on their local cultural context and needs. Planting and maintaining trees also creates employment in the communities. A human-centered approach to filling gaps in the urban forest (32.58)Julia explains that the Tree Equity Score is a free tool American Forests created as a prioritization system, which provides a score from 1 to 100 based on a combined measure of tree canopy and social and climate health.  Breaking down the Tree Equity Score (35.15)Julia delineates the different parts of the Tree Equity Score - the tree canopy goal and the priority measure. Data is powerful to help change minds (40.58)Benita recalls that developing a rigorous tool was critical to move the cause of tree equity forward at a local governance level, just as it was to make the tool free and open. A holistic solution (47.31)The user guide accompanying the Tree Equity Score tool describes how to calculate the benefits of reaching different equity score targets. Coming together for tree equity (54.30)American Forests recently launched the Tree Equity Alliance to bring other national organizations together on the issues of urban greening and environmental justice. A sense of urgency (1.00.14)Benita expresses a sense of urgency to advance tree equity with local leaders and decision makers since “some communities are much more likely to be sick or die than other communities”.

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