Tree Equity Score is a metric captured from American Forests, a non-profit that seeks to expand tree canopy spanning from Urban environments to large natural landscapes. The Tree Equity Score (TES) in your TreePlotter CANOPY application measures neighborhood trees and their ability to share their benefits with the people that live in those areas. The score provides a metric for tree canopy, surface temperature, income, employment, race, age and health factors. The score is based on a 0 to 100 point system that measure how well a specific area’s trees provide benefits for residents. Tree Equity Scores can be used to advocate for public policy, plan land use around your city, and implement and establish priority for urban forestry programs.
What benefits are factored into the Tree Equity Score?
In TreePlotter CANOPY the Tree Equity Score is available for Census Block Group geometry layers only. You can utilize the Tree Equity Score in the View and Plan tabs.
View Tool
First, select the Tree Equity Score within the Plan tab. Then, you will see the range of tree equity scores for your area. Select a Census Block Group by selecting a polygon on your map. Then a pop up will appear with the specific Tree Equity Score for that area. The Legend in the top right corner will provide a color ramp with light green as the highest (100) and orange with the lowest (0).
Plan Tool
For the Census Block Group layer, you can view the site suitability factored with the Tree Equity Score and other variables for each block group. Click on an area and you will see the how the area ranks in comparison to all of the other areas. The Plan Tool takes into account the Tree Equity Score and other factors within the data such as People of Color, People in Poverty, Average Temperature, Possible UTC etc, combining them into a single metric for Site Suitability. The Legend is found in the top right corner of your screen.
