The trouble with trees? Social and political dynamics of street tree-planting efforts in Detroit, Michigan, USA

Carmichael, Christine; McDonough, Maureen H.

doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2018.03.009

Cited by 71 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Moreover, the two areas with the highest percent of tree canopy cover in Seattle were While urban trees mitigate urban heat island effects, it is important to acknowledge that trees can produce disservices (55,56). Not everyone wants trees, so their absence may be a desired condition for some residents (57)(58)(59)(60)(61). Additionally, a pixel of tree canopy cover cannot reveal whether a tree was purposefully planted or sprouted through seed dispersal.…”

Section: Results Of Further Tests and Robustness Checksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential housing segregation and urban tree canopy in 37 US Cities

Locke

Hall

Grove

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Redlining was a racially discriminatory housing policy established by the federal Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) during the 1930s. For decades, redlining limited access to homeownership and wealth creation among racial minorities, contributing to a host of adverse social outcomes, including high unemployment, poverty, and residential vacancy, that persist today. While the multigenerational socioeconomic impacts of redlining are increasingly understood, the impacts on urban environments and ecosystems remains unclear. To begin to address this gap, we investigated how the HOLC policy administered 80 years ago may relate to present-day tree canopy at the neighborhood level. Urban trees provide many ecosystem services, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and may improve quality of life in cities. In our prior research in Baltimore, MD, we discovered that redlining policy influenced the location and allocation of trees and parks. Our analysis of 37 metropolitan areas here shows that areas formerly graded D, which were mostly inhabited by racial and ethnic minorities, have on average ~23% tree canopy cover today. Areas formerly graded A, characterized by U.S.-born white populations living in newer housing stock, had nearly twice as much tree canopy (~43%). Results are consistent across small and large metropolitan regions. The ranking system used by Home Owners’ Loan Corporation to assess loan risk in the 1930s parallels the rank order of average percent tree canopy cover today.

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Section: Results Of Further Tests and Robustness Checksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential housing segregation and urban tree canopy in 37 US Cities

Locke

Hall

Grove

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For the public, urban forests can positively impact mood and psychological well‐being (FAO, 2018;; Hobhouse, 2004; Rathmann et al., 2020), and forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) has been reported to afford medical health benefits (Li, 2010) while urban trees as oxygen and shade suppliers are also widely appreciated (Camacho‐Cervantes, Schondube, Castillo, & MacGregor‐Fors, 2014). However, tree retention and planting is not universally welcomed in urban areas by all stakeholders who often relate it to safety issues (i.e., accidents, infrastructure damage), health issues (i.e., allergies), economic and mobility issues, and possible inadequate long‐term management (Camacho‐Cervantes et al., 2014; Carmichael & McDonough, 2018; Lyytimäki, Petersen, Normander, & Bezák, 2008). Similarly, fungi (especially macrofungi) and bees are not universally welcomed by humans (Boa, 2004; Gerdes, Uhl, & Alpers, 2009).…”

Section: Urban Ecosystems In the Global Biodiversity Crisis And In Edmentioning

confidence: 99%

The state of the world’s urban ecosystems: What can we learn from trees, fungi, and bees?

Stevenson

Bidartondo

Blackhall-Miles³

et al. 2020

Plants People Planet

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“…Of course, not all people want to plant trees on their property. For instance, one-quarter of eligible residents in Detroit, Michigan turned down free street trees (Carmichael & McDonough, 2018) due to a history with unmaintained trees following the contraction of Detroit's tree maintenance program. Further, only one in five U.S. forest owners plant trees on their land (Butler, 2008).…”

Section: Motivations For Planting Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Realizing Expectations from Planting Trees on Private Land in Ontario, Canada

Macdonald¹,

McKenney²,

McLaven³

et al. 2020

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This study explores the motivations behind participation in tree planting programs by private landowners in Ontario, Canada, as well as perceptions as to whether benefits were realized up to ten years after trees were planted. Forests Ontario, which has offered tree planting support programs in this province since 2007, provides up to 90% of the cost of seedlings for tree planting projects at least one hectare (ha) in size. This online survey of 570 former participants in tree planting programs indicated that a desire to create a habitat for wildlife (77.6%) was the most common motivation for taking part in a tree planting program. Concern with restoring native forest cover was also a reason for most participants (71.4%), as well as with improving soil, air and water quality (54.8%), and addressing climate change (54.3%). The most common benefit of planting trees was an increase in well-being and enjoyment of their property (67% of respondents). Overall, 27% of respondents with a desire to increase wildlife habitat, and 20% of those wishing to improve their local environment reported an improvement after tree planting. Reported improvements in the local environment and wildlife increased with time since tree planting, whereas enhanced well-being and enjoyment of the property were evident among participants even with newly planted trees.

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The trouble with trees? Social and political dynamics of street tree-planting efforts in Detroit, Michigan, USA

Cited by 71 publications

References 20 publications

Residential housing segregation and urban tree canopy in 37 US Cities

Residential housing segregation and urban tree canopy in 37 US Cities

The state of the world’s urban ecosystems: What can we learn from trees, fungi, and bees?

Realizing Expectations from Planting Trees on Private Land in Ontario, Canada

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