Tree Equity and Urban Tree Canopy
| Authors: | Dexter H. Locke [editor], Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Morgan Grove |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071908006.n360 |
| Source: | The Sage Encyclopedia of Environmental Justice. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc. |
Abstract
Urban tree canopy (UTC) measures the spatial extent of the layer of leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above. It provides a measure of coverage, often expressed as a percentage of land area. The spatial distribution of urban tree canopy is heterogeneous: neither uniform nor random. Trees provide ecosystem services, and the uneven distribution of trees results in the uneven and inequitable distribution of ecosystem services and environmental, economic, and social benefits of urban trees.
Although there are many ways to measure tree canopy cover in urban areas, high-resolution (≤1m2), high-accuracy (≥95%) tree canopy maps are the industry standard, providing the best measure of coverage and exposure, while ensuring comparability across areas. This entry details types of inequity and spatial variation in urban tree canopy, the role of land use and social institutions in exacerbating these inequities, and pathways to mitigate inequities in urban tree canopy.