A new online tool could aid in local planning to increase tree coverage

EVERETT — Since last week, Snohomish County and large parts of western Washington have been under a heat advisory, but depending on if where you live is surrounded by trees, that heat may have felt very different.

A new online map created by the Washington Department of Natural Resources and conservation nonprofit American Forests illustrates tree canopy statistics across the state, highlighting how socioeconomic disparities can play a role in shade cover and temperature hot spots.

Trees provide air and water filtration and shade sidewalks and houses, lowering utility costs and decreasing risks of heat-related illnesses, but some neighborhoods and population groups have historically missed out on these benefits due to systemic discrimination.

The map breaks neighborhoods down by census blocks, allowing viewers to see certain characteristics of the population, such as the percentage of unemployment or if residents are isolated by language barriers. The tool also shows the percentage of tree canopy in the area, assigning a tree equity score based on the combined factors out of 100 and calculating how much of an increase in canopy cover is needed for residents to feel the full benefits of an urban forest.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/a-new-online-tool-could-aid-in-local-planning-to-increase-tree-coverage/