Ep. 247 Planting with Purpose: Tree Equity and Our Communities | #GoodGrowing

About this episode

The episode discusses tree equity and its importance in communities, exploring historical practices and tools for equitable tree planting.

In this Arbor Month episode of Good Growing, horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart dig into the concept of tree equity—the idea that all neighborhoods deserve access to tree canopy and the benefits trees provide. From shade and stormwater management to mental health and property values, the hosts explore why trees matter and why their distribution across communities is far from equal. The conversation traces how historical practices like redlining shaped today’s urban forests, explains why some neighborhoods still have far fewer trees, and introduces practical tools—like the Tree Equity Score and i‑Tree—that can help communities make more informed, equitable tree‑planting decisions. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0SFKXYs8yX4 Skip to what you want to know: 00:30 Hey Ken! 01:18 Welcome, Emily! 02:38 First topic of tree month: Tree equity 04:11 What are the benefits of trees? Ecosystem services 09:28 Social and Emotional benefits of trees 14:38 Not everyone has the benefits of trees. Diving into the topic of tree equity. 17:10 The history of tree inequity 17:57 Redlining and its effect on tree equity 23:41 What tools can be used to look at the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, Emily Swihart

Topics covered

• tree equity
• urban forests
• community planning
• environmental benefits
• historical practices
• mental health

Keywords

• tree equity
• urban forests
• redlining
• ecosystem services
• community health
• tree canopy
• i-Tree
• Tree Equity Score

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tree Equity Score, i-Tree

Places: Illinois

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