Volunteers helped plant 50 trees at Shadydale Elementary, an area with a low Tree Equity Score, which will help improve the area’s tree canopy in the future

Washington, D.C. (December 9, 2024)American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the U.S., has launched the Houston Tree Equity Score Analyzer, developed through a collaborative partnership with local nonprofit Trees for Houston and a dedicated team of local stakeholders from government, environmental groups and the public health sector. The analyzer provides data and insights on the impact of tree cover alongside demographic data, land use, poverty and other socioeconomic indicators to guide planning and investments to grow tree cover. Nearly 80% of urban neighborhoods in the United States – home to 207 million people – have inadequate tree cover.

Image of a tree planting event in Houston in collaboration with Google.org Thomas Koenig / Big Pineapple Productions

Photo Credit: Thomas Koenig / Big Pineapple Productions

The project was supported by Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, with a $450,000 grant that was provided to the organization in 2022. To mark the launch, American Forests joined Trees For Houston to plant 50 trees at Shadydale Elementary in Northeast Houston on December 6. Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Shadydale’s Principal Pandora Agnew and Google volunteers joined the event alongside other community groups. According to the Houston Tree Equity Analyzer, the school currently has just 9% tree canopy coverage, falling short of the 30% canopy goal for the area. The planting will increase the canopy by 6%.

The Tree Equity Score Analyzer will help Houston make data-informed decisions to advance Tree Equity in its neighborhoods and works in tandem with American Forests’ renowned Tree Equity Score, a free data platform that maps tree coverage and sets the national standard for advancing Tree Equity in urban areas across America. The analyzer equips residents, local leaders and organizations with information to make the case for Tree Equity, as well as insights needed to build planting and protection scenarios, set targets and track progress. The analyzer’s auto-generated reports estimate the projected economic, health and environmental benefits of each tree planting initiative at maturity.

Local leaders, Google and American Forests shared the following about its launch:

“This marks a significant milestone for Houston’s urban forestry efforts,” said Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson. “This effort goes beyond simply planting trees—it’s about creating the foundation for a greener, more inclusive future for our community. By uniting diverse resources and partners, including American Forests, Google.org and Trees for Houston, we’re showcasing a powerful dedication to enhancing the environmental well-being and quality of life in our urban areas.”

Image of Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson at a tree planting event in Houston in collaboration with Google.org Thomas Koenig / Big Pineapple Productions

Texas Representative Senfronia Thompson with volunteers and American Forests staff.
Photo Credit: Thomas Koenig / Big Pineapple Productions

“The Tree Equity Score Analyzer enables communities to take a human-centered, data-driven approach to developing actionable tree planting and protection plans, ensuring they are focusing on areas that need them most, like Shadydale Elementary School,” said Chris David, Vice President of GIS and Data Science at American Forests. “We look forward to working with our partners in Houston to continue to grow equitable tree cover in the community with data-driven approaches and action.”

“At Google, we strive to develop technology that creates meaningful and positive change in communities throughout the world, including advancing environmental goals,” said Katharine McAden, Google’s head of public policy and external affairs in Texas. “Seeing the community gather at Shadydale Elementary School to plant trees, which are vital to the livelihood of every community, would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of American Forests and other environmental champions.”

Over the past five years, American Forests has led and mobilized a nationwide Tree Equity movement. Aiming to help at least 100 cities make meaningful progress on Tree Equity by 2030 through best-in-class tools, resources and equitable grantmaking, American Forests helped to unlock the nation’s largest federal investment in urban forestry – $1.5 billion – in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

To learn more and use the Houston Tree Equity Score Analyzer, visit: https://www.treeequityscore.org/analyzer/houston

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ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS: American Forests is the first national nonprofit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry, innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. For more information visit: www.americanforests.org.