Tree Equity: A Call to Action for Corporate Social Value

The uneven distribution of trees across the UK’s urban areas has become a pressing issue of social and environmental justice. This concept, known as tree equity, highlights the fact that not all communities benefit equally from urban greenery.

It’s a challenge that knows no boundaries. It does not respect party lines, nor sector limits. It's broad, it's encompassing, it's everything, and everyone. It cuts across socioeconomic lines, with disadvantaged areas often suffering from lower tree canopy coverage, hotter temperatures, poorer air quality, and fewer green spaces.

But what if corporate leaders could make a difference, improving not just the environment, but the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of those most in need? What if NGOs, corporate companies, local and national government and communities came together, with a shared vision and action, what if together, we could make the difference we so desperately need?

What is Tree Equity?

Tree equity is the idea that every neighbourhood — regardless of income, race, or background— should have sufficient tree cover to enjoy the health, economic, and environmental benefits trees offer. However, many of the UK’s most deprived urban areas have significantly less tree coverage compared to wealthier neighbourhoods.

A report by Friends of the Earth found that in England, tree cover in urban areas varies widely. Less affluent areas have 10% less tree cover than wealthier ones, with cities like Birmingham and London facing particular challenges. These disparities lead to a host of inequities, including poorer air quality, higher urban heat in summer, and increased risk of flooding. On average, around 13% of urban England is covered by trees, with significant room for improvement

Whilst the UK government does some level of addressing tree canopy cover, their actions remain inadequately low. Despite recommendations across environmental agencies to set a target of 20%, which still fall short of the average levels across the EU and research that shows the public health benefits of 30% cover, there is no target for neighbourhood or urban tree over and their goal for boosting tree numbers would only see tree cover rise to 16.5% by 2050. Yet currently, 43% of neighbourhoods in England currently have less than 10% tree coverage, with a staggering 84% falling short of the 20% recommendation, from the likes of the Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities and the wider joint network of Wildlife and Countryside Link, who all show concern regarding the reduction in government ambition.

The message is clear. It's time for us to take action and fix this for ourselves.

The Social Value of Trees

The UK's trees and woods are worth a staggering economic value of ￡382 billion.

This isn't from the value of wood or cleaning the air, because trees do far more than this. It includes estimates for trees’ benefits to public health, cooling our cities, flood prevention, storing carbon and much else besides and those numbers are eye-opening:

• Greenhouse gases – UK woodlands sequestered 19.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, valued at ￡5.1 billion (based on the 2021 figure).
• Health and recreation – annual health benefits from recreation in woodland were estimated at ￡1.1 billion.
• Air quality – UK woodlands removed over 316,000 tonnes of air pollutants worth an estimated ￡1.8 billion in avoided negative health impacts.
• Flood regulating – the annual value of trees in reducing flooding risk in the UK was estimated at ￡911 million.
• Urban heat regulating – the annual value of city trees in providing shade was estimated at ￡753 million.

In short, urban trees are worth far more than they cost. Trees offer measurable benefits that resonate deeply with corporate social responsibility goals, particularly those focused on health, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.

Environmental Justice is Social Justice

The issue of tree equity is deeply intertwined with social justice. Friends of the Earth highlighted that wealthier areas of cities in the UK are much greener, with tree cover up to 65% higher in the most affluent areas. Historically, deprived neighbourhoods—particularly those with higher proportions of ethnic minorities—have been overlooked when it comes to urban greening efforts.

But the consequences of this inequity go beyond aesthetics. Poorer urban areas with fewer trees face higher risks of heat stress, flooding, and pollution-related illnesses. As the effects of climate change intensify, those already at a disadvantage will bear the brunt of environmental impacts. Addressing tree equity is not just about planting more trees—it’s about ensuring that those trees are placed where they are needed most.

A Role for Corporate Social Value Leaders

Corporations have a powerful role to play in bridging the tree equity gap. Here’s how corporate leaders can take meaningful action:

1. Funding Tree Planting Initiatives: Companies can invest in targeted tree planting programmes, especially in urban areas most in need. Partnering with charities like The Woodland Trust allows businesses to support tree equity directly, improving both the environment and the quality of life for disadvantaged communities.

2. Fund Tree Equity Initiatives: Companies can also invest more widely in tree equity initiatives through the Woodland Trust's Tree Equity Programme, incorporating, amongst other aspects, targeted tree planting projects, community engagement, local and national influencing, policy and research.

3. Embedding Tree Equity into CSR Policies: Social value directors can embed tree equity into their corporate strategies, aligning it with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. For example, companies can integrate tree planting into community regeneration projects or employee volunteer days, ensuring long-term impact.

4. Leverage Business Assets: Beyond funding, businesses can use their networks and expertise to amplify tree equity initiatives. For example, companies can create public awareness campaigns, leveraging their marketing capabilities to advocate for urban greening.

5. Measure and Report Impact: Measuring the social and environmental impact of these initiatives will be key. Using tools like the Tree Equity Score UK — which takes into account tree cover, population density, income, and climate vulnerability — companies can track the effectiveness of their contributions and report back to stakeholders with confidence.

Conclusion

Tree equity isn’t just a matter of urban planning — it’s a social value issue that corporations have the power to address. By investing in urban greening, businesses can reduce health inequalities, foster community wellbeing, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, all while creating measurable social value. Now is the time to act — because a greener, fairer future is possible, but it requires commitment from all sectors, and all levels.

About Me: I'm an Urban Project Officer, with a passion for learning, nature conservation and environmental justice. With a background in teaching and project management, now brought into a role in conservation, I'm dedicated to contributing to the creation of sustainable, equitable urban spaces that benefit both people and wildlife. I'm an avid advocate for tree equity, and not just because it's my job, but because it encompasses all that I hold most important to me - nature, people, justice and the legacy that we leave for our children.

Please note, everything I share here reflects my personal views and passions, and not those of my employer. However, if anyone would like to hear more about the tree equity work of the Woodland Trust, they are welcome to contact me.