Tree Canopy

Palm Trees

Where Los Angeles Most Needs Trees

Google has unveiled a new tool called Tree Canopy Lab in an effort to keep cities like Los Angeles cool by helping them to know where to plant more trees.

November 24, 2020 - The Verge

Honolulu

How to Increase the Urban Canopy in Cities

Former University of Hawaii professor Tom Dinell makes a case for the need for more trees in Honolulu, with recommendations that can be applied in other cities as well.

October 13, 2020 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Trees

A New Study Asserts the Importance of Urban Trees in Conservation Efforts

Data collected from 13 million tree planting records in 473 urban areas across 73 countries provides insight into the role of urban trees in biodiversity conservation.

October 7, 2020 - Cosmos Online

Boston Skyline with Dome

Boston Launches a 20-Year Urban Forestry Plan

The forthcoming Boston Urban Forestry Plan is expected to support communities that have been disproportionately exposed to environmental stressors.

October 6, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

Addressing Equity by Strategically Planting Millions of Trees

As part of the Trillion Trees Initiative, cities across the country are pledging to plant trees and restore urban forests to fight climate change and cool off disadvantaged communities.

August 31, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Green

Critics Say Boston Tree Removal Plan Reflects Environmental Racism

A road project in Boston involves removing hundreds of mature trees. Residents say the plan is an environmental justice issue.

August 28, 2020 - The Boston Globe

Asphalt

The Undeniable Link Between Redlining and Extreme Heat in American Cities

The country’s history of racist and segregationist housing policies is affecting vulnerable low-income communities of color that are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.

August 26, 2020 - The New York Times

Philadelphia Park

1,000 Football Fields Worth of Trees Lost in Philadelphia Over a Decade

Philadelphia's new "Tree Canopy Assessment" both records the damage of the past decade and makes the case for a new path forward when in comes to prioritizing the city's tree canopy.

December 10, 2019 - WHYY

Parks and Open Space

Cleveland Launches Tree Replenishment Program

The city of Cleveland will hope to reap environmental and economic rewards by spending $1 million a year to regrow its tree canopy.

October 16, 2019 - Cleveland.com

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Seattle Residents Wary of Urban Greening Efforts

Parts of the city desperately need more trees, but some residents worry about the long-term effects of tree planting in neighborhoods.

August 15, 2019 - Crosscut

Downtown Dallas

The Data-Driven Plan to Cool Down Dallas

Dallas's resiliency plan analyzed the best ways to combat heat in every neighborhood.

January 2, 2019 - Governing Magazine

Texas

San Antonio Branching Out its Tree Planting Efforts

The city of San Antonio has a lot of money to spend on trees but not a lot of places to plant them.

November 7, 2018 - San Antonio Express-News

Seattle

Seattle Revamping its Tree Ordinance

A recent study found that Seattle's tree coverage shrank from 2010-2015, but the city has a goal to cover 30 percent of the city with trees by 2037.

May 25, 2018 - The Urbanist

Tree Canopy

Seattle Looking for Better Tree Protections

Advocates and politicians are mustering ideas and support for new tree ordinances that line up with the city's climate goals.

February 16, 2018 - KUOW

Hollywood Blvd

Study: House Sizes Increase at the Expense of Tree Canopies

A research study has found that increasing house sizes in the Los Angeles area have drastically reduced the number of trees shading the region's landscapes—regardless of geographic location of socioeconomic status.

May 3, 2017 - EurekAlert

Trees and People

Researchers Finding Evidence of the Negative Impacts of Trees in Urban Settings

More and more evidence has emerged in recent years about the many benefits of trees in urban environments. Every now and then, however, a study finds evidence that tress might not always be as benevolent as they seem.

November 11, 2015 - The Conversation

McMansions Spark Debate in Decatur, Georgia

Call them teardowns, infill, or McMansions, the affluent suburb of Decatur, Georgia is dealing with growing concern about neighborhood character and tree canopy as property owners adopt the trend toward new, large houses in existing neighborhoods.

July 1, 2014 - Atlanta Creative Loafing

To Discern D.C.'s Haves and Have-Nots, Look to the Trees

In Washington D.C., double the amount of residents in affluent areas live among plentiful green spaces. Lessening the disparity will require the cooperation of private property owners, not all of whom see more trees as a good thing.

April 29, 2013 - The Washington Post

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.