Tree Equity Tool for Greener Neighbourhoods
City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation
We are the keepers of our common grounds.
The City of Toronto has launched Tree Equity Score Analyzer (TESA) - a new online tool designed to help people understand why trees are important and how to plant them strategically in their neighbourhoods for the biggest impact to people and the environment.
The tool analyzes land cover data with demographic and socioeconomic data to identify opportunities for canopy expansion at the neighbourhood scale. The tree equity score indicates whether a neighbourhood has the right number of trees, so that everyone can experience the benefits that trees provide.
The City of Toronto has a target of 40 per cent tree canopy cover by 2050.? Communities play a key role in helping to achieve this target in part by planting and protecting trees on private property.
Community groups can access TESA data to guide decisions on where to plant trees and how to address gaps related to tree cover in different areas of the city. Organizations and leaders can use the analyzer to set targets, track progress, and estimate the benefits of tree planting projects.
“Urban Forestry has already started using tree equity mapping to prioritize areas of the city with low tree equity for tree planting on city-owned land and tree giveaways for private property,” said Kim Statham, Director of Urban Forestry, City of Toronto.
“The Tree Equity Score Analyzer online tool empowers community leaders and residents to get involved, make informed decisions and support tree planting in their neighbourhoods that will benefit the most.”?
Following the 2018 Canopy Study the City used a tree equity approach developed by American Forests , a US non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and urban forestry, to calculate Tree Equity Scores for each neighbourhood in Toronto. Tree Equity Scores are determined by using canopy data along with demographic and socioeconomic information to determine where trees should be planted to benefit communities most in need. By considering inequities in forest distribution the City can prioritize tree planting to maximize their benefits on the health and well-being of the most marginalized neighbourhoods
Toronto is the first Canadian city that will benefit from American Forests knowledge and experience in addressing tree equity. The development of the Toronto tool was a joint effort involving the City of Toronto, American Forests, LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests and local stakeholders from government, environmental and public health sectors.
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“Making this data available to everyone is an important first step in the journey toward greater tree equity,” said Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF.
“The more we can see and understand the disparities in our tree canopy, the better we can come up with community-led solutions.”
Having more trees in a community has been shown to improve people’s physical and mental health. From sequestering carbon dioxide to providing wildlife habitat, trees are well known to have many ecological benefits. As concerns around climate change and heat related illnesses continue to rise, trees can also be part of the solution to addressing urban related heat issues.
This tree equity tool is a big step toward making Toronto greener, healthier and fairer for everyone.
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