They decorate our lawns, parks, and sidewalks, providing us with shade, flowers, and vibrant colors, trees are a common part of our surroundings. Though they contribute to beautifying our natural landscapes they are also extremely vital to providing us with an array of environmental benefits that include: releasing oxygen, improving air quality, supporting wildlife, and conserving water.
Trees play an integral role in promoting community health. The many benefits they possess, makes them essential to enhancing any environment. However, within communities in the United States, the environmental benefits that trees make available are not equitably distributed among neighborhoods. Often, low-income communities of color are found lacking the availability of trees in their neighborhoods, while their white wealthy counterparts are abundantly supplied with trees.
Visual summary by Tony Ruth (@lunchbreath) for the Design In Tech Report.
The lack of tree coverage in urban areas is a result of discriminatory housing policies such as redlining. Redlining--a discriminatory practice that puts services (financial and otherwise) out of reach for residents of certain areas based on race or ethnicity--was made illegal in the 1970s but continues to negatively impact the livelihoods of BIPOC people to this day.
The term, “Tree Equity,” has become popularized by different environmental organizations as it relates to environmental justice issues. Tree Equity, is about establishing that every community has trees in their neighborhood, so that every person can acquire their benefits. According to the article, “Tree Equity in American Cities,” recently published by American Forests, trees located in urban areas can capture up to 8222,000 metric tons (MT) of air pollution each year. By planting more trees we can address environmental inequities and bridge the gap, so that everyone has access to clean air. Tree Equity is the solution to creating a world that ensures that everyone regardless of income or race has access to the benefits that trees supply to our lives.
Why Learning About Tree Equity Is Important
The following image in this piece is courtesy of: https://americanforests.medium.com/an-earth-day-resolution-for-americas-urban-forests-e9b47f46a3e7
In an article, The Case For Tree Equity Education, recently written by Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultant, intern Lizi Barrow, discusses why educating students on tree equity is beneficial. Lizi explains that it imparts students with knowledge on how significant of a role trees play in our lives, while simultaneously, providing insight into how certain historical state practices in the United States continue to negatively impact communities of color. Through educating students about tree equity, “they gain the skills to recognize further instances of environmental injustice in their everyday lives.” Through examples of real life case studies Lizi makes a compelling argument in urging educators to incorporate tree equity in class discussions. Lizi Barrow is a recent high school graduate, who plans to attend Bates College in the Fall of this year. To read Lizi’s Op-Ed piece: see The Case For Tree Equity Education.
Written by Tsion Syoum, a senior at Haverford College ‘21 majoring in Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Intern, Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants, March 2021.
Article published in the PAISBOA Friday Flyer March 19, 2021.
