"Trees Are Missing in Low-income Neighborhoods"

"More tree cover would lower disproportionately high levels of heat and pollution"

"Most U.S. cities have tree-planting programs, but not all urban tree canopies are created equal, according to a new analysis from American Forests.

The conservation organization said today that the United States needs to plant more than a half-billion new trees to achieve an equitable urban canopy across nearly 500 metropolitan areas and 150,000 local communities.

The findings are based on a new "Tree Equity Score" data tool that allows users to see where urban trees exist, and where they don't. American Forests also identified 20 large U.S. cities that are lagging in urban forest canopies that would protect their most vulnerable populations from hotter temperatures."

Daniel Cusick reports for E&E News June 22, 2021.

Source: E&E News, 06/23/2021