Why Is Shade Important?

As extreme heat events become more frequent, shade is essential for keeping cities livable. However, virtually no city has access to shade mapping to identify where shade is or if communities have enough.

American Forests, in partnership with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, developed a national shade index map for more than 330 U.S. cities and towns as a new feature in its Tree Equity Score tool to close this data gap and give cities the tools to protect residents.  

Urban planners, advocacy groups, city leaders and others can use shade mapping to see shade data at the census-block level, find shade deserts, and ensure that improvements to shade infrastructure, including planting and growing trees to maturity, are targeted to address areas most in need.  

Shade mapping can be used in conjunction with social and environmental variables already available in American Forests’ free Tree Equity Score tool, which indicates whether there are enough trees in a neighborhood for everyone to experience the health, economic and climate benefits that trees provide.  

With vs. Without Shade

Communities with the lowest Tree Equity Scores (0–69) have only 18% shade cover at noon. But the coolest neighborhoods have twice as much tree canopy and 40% more shade at the hottest time of day. The difference can save lives during the hottest months of the year.
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Tree Equity Score shade mapping tool

Tree Equity Score’s shade mapping tool helps you see where shade is at critical times of the day.