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Help create tree equity in cities and
towns across America.
https://treeequityscore.org/
Catalyzing Urban Tree Action
Tree Equity Score

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Today’s Agenda
1. Tree Equity Score– Overview of Data
2. Tree Equity Score National Explorer—
Features and Demo
3. Catalyzing Action with Tree Equity Score
4. Use Cases
5. Q&A

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American Forests is the
oldest national nonprofit
conservation organization in
the United States.

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What is Tree Inequity?
Tree Equity is about ensuring that all people experience the health, economic
and other benefits that trees provide.

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The Score
Tree Equity Score highlights inequitable access to trees. It measures how well
a neighborhood or municipality provides the benefits of urban tree canopy to
low-income communities, populations of color and other populations that
are particularly susceptible to extreme heat and other conditions.
150,000 urbanized neighborhoods
in 4000+ cities and towns
The lower the score, the greater priority for tree planting.
A score of 100 means the neighborhood has met tree
planting goals.
0 100

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The Math
Population Density
(ppl/km2)
Adjustment
Factor
Very low (<2k) 1.2
Low (2k-4k) 1
Moderate (4k-8k) 0.8
High (>8k) 0.5
Generalized
Ecoregion
Target
Canopy
Forested 40%
Grassland 20%
Desert 15%
Baseline Tree
Canopy Target
Population
Density
Adjustment
x
Six equally weighted
priority characteristics
Tree Canopy
Goal
Existing
Canopy
–
=
Aggregate
High-Resolution
Tree Canopy
Priority
Index
x
Tree Canopy Need
Score
0 100

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Tree Equity Score: 89
Priority Index: 0.30
Tree Canopy Gap: 15%
Tree Equity Score: 55
Priority Index: 0.72
Tree Canopy Gap: 28%
Tree Equity Score: 60
Priority Index: 0.58
Tree Canopy Gap: 31%
What it looks like

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✓ Free Account – Available for select cities/regions
✓ Site-Level Data (Parcel)
✓ High-Resolution Tree Canopy
✓ Create site & multi-site plans by tree type and size
✓ Customize neighborhood-level targets
✓ Benefits estimation for each site plan
✓ Save and share collated site plans & impact reporting
✓ Track planting progress
✓ Co-created with stakeholders, supplemented with local data
✓ Free, nationwide coverage (CONUS)
✓ Neighborhood-Level Data (Census Block Group)
✓ Summarized High-Resolution Tree Canopy
✓ Explore municipal/regional planting scenarios
✓ Customize municipal/regional targets
✓ Regional benefits estimation
✓ City, congressional district, and state summaries
NATIONA
L
EXPLORER
RHODE
ISLAND
TREE EQUITY SCORE NATIONAL EXPLORER TREE EQUITY SCORE ANALYZER
The Apps

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Common Uses
• Locate priority areas for tree planting,
distribution, or maintenance
• Create a tree management strategy
• Plan your tree planting budget
• Organize volunteer program activities
• Identify neighborhoods for targeted
outreach
• Find your score and compare scores across
neighborhoods
• How does Tree Equity intersect with urban
heat/public health/other issues in my area?
• What does Tree Equity mean for people of
color or people in poverty in my area?
Explore Data & Ask Questions
Plan
Raise Awareness
• Testify at a public hearing
• Create a presentation for a local
committee meeting
• Drum up press coverage
• Create public outreach materials
• Develop a lesson plan
• Gather data to support a project proposal
• Write a competitive funding proposal
• Build support for a tree ordinance
• Advance a policy objective
• Utilize scores to secure research funding
Make a Case

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Q & A