When it comes to urban trees, more isn’t always better

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🗞️ Driving the news: In the wake of record-breaking heat during the summer of 2023, urban trees have gained attention for their ability to offset high temperatures
• While cities like Cedar Rapids and New York City have set ambitious tree-planting targets, the emphasis has often been on quantity over quality

🔭 The context: Traditional tree planting has been based on beautification and economic development
• This has resulted in unequal tree distribution, with wealthier areas having more tree cover than lower-income neighborhood

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate change has intensified the importance of strategic tree planting, which can provide shade and combat urban heat
• A "more is better" approach may not be sufficient; the focus should be on the strategic placement of trees for maximum impact

⏭️ What's next: Tools like "Tree Folio NYC", developed by Cornell University, use high-resolution data to simulate and quantify the shading benefits of trees
• Going forward, cities should make use of such tools to understand the local effects of tree canopies, ensuring trees are planted where they can provide the most benefit

💬 One quote: "Heat vulnerability is a citywide problem, but it is experienced locally... An urban tree should be thought of as a part of a distributed shading infrastructure." (Alexander Kobald, researcher at ETH Zurich)

📈 One stat: In the past, large tree planting initiatives have resulted in thousands of wasted saplings, exemplifying the need for a strategic approach

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