Podcast Summary
Expanding tree canopy in historically underfunded urban areas: TreePeople is working to equitably distribute trees and greenery in historically underfunded communities by planting and caring for them, improving air quality and providing shade, despite challenges of expense, time, and community engagement.
Access to trees and greenery is not equitably distributed, particularly in historically underfunded and marginalized urban communities. Eileen Garcia, the regional manager for TreePeople in Southeast LA, is working to change that by planting and caring for trees in areas like Huntington Park, which have historically lacked shade due to redlining and racist housing policies. However, tree care is expensive, time-consuming, and requires community engagement. Despite these challenges, TreePeople is making a difference, one tree at a time, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits of trees, including shade and improved air quality. The importance of expanding tree canopy in urban areas becomes even more pressing as climate change continues to increase summer temperatures. It's not just about planting more trees, but also about ensuring they thrive and continue to provide benefits for generations to come.
The Importance of Trees and Shade in Urban Areas: Urban areas lack shade leading to heat stress, which is the deadliest type of natural disaster in the US. Trees and shade are crucial to mitigate extreme heat, especially during heat waves fueled by climate change.
The lack of shade in urban areas, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, is a significant issue leading to heat stress, which is the deadliest type of natural disaster in the US. Eileen Garcia, from the Pop Culture Moms podcast, grew up surrounded by trees in her lush yard in La Puente, but many people don't associate LA with trees or shade. However, before European settlers arrived, the indigenous Tongva people managed the oak woodlands and lived off the acorns. Today, cities like LA are built around sunshine, but the heat can be deadly, with extreme temperatures and heat waves fueled by climate change. Alejandra Barunda, a writer at Nat Geo's environment desk, warns that there may be days in the future when we can't escape the heat, even at night. This summer, the Pacific Northwest experienced record-breaking temperatures, leading to over 100 deaths. It's essential to recognize the importance of trees and shade in urban areas and take steps to mitigate the effects of extreme heat.
Trees make urban areas more livable but distribution is unequal: Trees provide numerous benefits such as shade, oxygen, and heat regulation, but their distribution is unequal, leaving some areas without these benefits, particularly low-income neighborhoods.
Trees play a crucial role in making urban areas more livable, particularly in combating the effects of climate change and heat waves. Trees provide shade, recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen, and regulate heat through transpiration, making neighborhoods cooler and more pleasant. However, the presence of trees is not evenly distributed, creating a divide between shaded and unshaded areas. This disparity was illustrated in Los Angeles, where tree coverage was sparse in low-income neighborhoods and more abundant in wealthier areas. The benefits of trees, including reduced energy costs and improved air quality, are significant, but their expense creates a barrier to equitable distribution.
Redlining's Impact on Urban Greenspaces: Redlining historically led to unequal distribution of trees and green spaces in cities, with marginalized communities receiving fewer resources due to discriminatory practices.
The history of redlining in urban planning has led to significant disparities in tree coverage and overall green spaces between wealthier and historically marginalized communities. During the Great Depression, the Homeowners Loan Corporation (HOLC) created maps to determine which areas were the best for home mortgage investments. Neighborhoods with predominantly white residents received the best grades, while those with people of color, immigrants, and low-income residents were labeled as risky and received lower grades. This led to less city investment in these areas, resulting in fewer trees and green spaces. Although redlining officially ended in 1968, its legacy continues to impact urban landscapes, with former redline neighborhoods experiencing higher temperatures and fewer trees compared to wealthier areas. This history underscores the importance of addressing systemic inequalities in urban planning to promote equitable access to green spaces and improve overall community health and well-being.
Tackling tree disparities in underserved neighborhoods: Decades of housing discrimination and lack of investment have made tree care a low priority in underserved areas, requiring more than just planting trees to address the issue.
The lack of tree coverage and tree equity in underserved neighborhoods, particularly in predominantly black areas, is a complex issue that requires more than just planting trees. Decades of housing discrimination and lack of investment have led to intergenerational poverty and other pressing needs that make tree care and maintenance a low priority. In areas like DeSoto Park in North Saint Louis, the lack of tree coverage exacerbates the problem, as people cannot afford to maintain trees on their own and the city cannot remove trees on private property. This frustration with trees, rooted in past negative experiences, makes it difficult for residents to see the benefits and embrace them. Organizations like Forest Relief are working to address this issue by providing funding for tree upkeep and removal, but it will take a significant effort to acknowledge and correct these disparities.
Communities are taking matters into their own hands to improve their neighborhoods by planting trees: Following George Floyd's death, communities impacted by historical issues like redlining are planting trees to improve their neighborhoods. While cities set goals to increase tree canopy cover, much of the work falls to individuals and nonprofits.
Communities, particularly those impacted by historical issues like redlining, are taking matters into their own hands to improve their neighborhoods by planting trees. This movement gained momentum after the summer of 2020, following the death of George Floyd, and has led to increased interest from local companies and community groups in North Saint Louis. However, the question of whose responsibility it is to address the deep-rooted issue of unequal tree canopy cover remains. Cities like Los Angeles have set goals to plant more trees and increase canopy cover in neglected neighborhoods, but much of the work still falls to individuals and nonprofits. Change often comes from those living with the effects of redlining, as demonstrated by Aileen Garcia and TreePeople in Huntington Park. Planting trees not only provides shade but also creates meaningful connections between people and their communities. For more stories about trees, cities, and environmental justice, check out our show notes for links to relevant resources.
Urban heat island effect and the role of urban parks: Urban areas absorb and retain more heat due to buildings and pavement, but urban parks can help mitigate some of these effects by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen
Cities experience higher temperatures than rural areas due to the urban heat island effect. This phenomenon occurs when buildings and pavement absorb and retain heat, leading to warmer urban environments. However, urban parks can help mitigate some of these effects by providing green spaces that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. For more information, listen to our podcast episode on this topic, which is available in the show notes of your podcast app. We encourage you to rate and review us to help spread the word. This episode was produced by Jacob Pinter, Alana Strauss, Brian Gutierrez, Laura Sim, Milena Hamilton, Carla Wills, and Devar Ardalan. Our fact checkers are Robin Palmer and Julie Beer, and our copy editor is Amy Kowlzak. Ted Woods sound designed and engineered the episode. Overheard at National Geographic is a production of National Geographic Partners, with Whitney Johnson as the director of visuals and immersive experiences, and Susan Goldberg as National Geographic's editorial director. I'm your host, Eli Chin, and thank you for listening.
