Tree Equity in Newport
In 2020, Rhode Island was selected as a pilot site to launch a new tool for visualizing tree distribution in our local communities: The Tree Equity Score.
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What is Tree Equity?
Trees provide many benefits to cities and their residents: cooling shade, air filtration, water absorption, noise reduction, and mental health benefits.
Unfortunately, these benefits have not been distributed equally.
Tree Equity means ensuring that all members of our community have access to the benefits that trees provide.
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What is a Tree Equity Score?
A Tree Equity Score is calculated based on how much tree canopy and surface temperature align with income, employment, race, age and health factors in a community.
Scores are calculated on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 indicating a perfectly equitable distribution of trees. Each score indicates whether there are enough trees in specific neighborhoods or municipalities for everyone to experience the health, economic and climate benefits that trees provide.
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How is NTC utilizing Tree Equity Scores?
The Newport Tree Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Newport, uses Tree Equity Scores to focus our outreach and planting efforts on those parts of the city that do not currently benefit from an equitable distribution of trees.
These scores also tell us where we as an organization need to invest more time and resources to solicit feedback and understand the needs and goals of residents.
Newport’s Tree Equity Score:
Up from a score of 77 in 2020… however, that’s not the whole picture
Not all of Newport’s neighborhoods score equally:
Two Newport neighborhoods still have a Tree Equity Score below 75
What do these numbers tell us?
In order for all of Newport’s neighborhoods to enjoy the benefits of trees equally,
new trees would need to be planted in lower-scoring areas.
Focus Areas:
The Newport Health Equity Zone is a city-wide coalition mobilizing residents and resources of the Broadway and North End neighborhoods to make Newport a place where everyone can thrive.
Urban areas absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat. Areas without tree cover can see higher daytime AND nighttime temperatures.
Now that we can see where trees could have the most impact, we can share that information with all Newporters and engage in conversations with residents about about their needs and goals for their own neighborhoods.
NTC is re-imagining our tree planting programs.
Beginning in 2022, with our Community Tree Program, we are moving away from a first-come-first-served approach, which has tended to favor those areas of Newport that are already well-planted, in favor of an equity-informed approach which favors community-members and neighborhoods that have historically been left behind and will receive the greatest benefit.
In spring of 2022, 38 residents in Newport’s Health Equity Zone received a new tree free of charge. In 2023 and 2024, 83 residents received free trees for their front and back yards. In addition to this program, NTC increased the number of trees that are planted in public spaces throughout HEZ each year.
By combining all of our available tools and partnering with our fellow community organizations, we are expanding the number of conversations we can have with Newporters about their goals for their homes and neighborhoods, and the benefits trees can offer.
2024 Plantings
Thanks to this new suite of tools, we were able to connect residents in Newport’s warmest neighborhoods, with trees that will benefit our community for generations to come
Want to explore Newport’s Tree Equity Map yourself?