Project Forest Forge:

Tree Inequity is the unequal distribution of trees and greenery between privileged versus marginalized communities, and can affect air quality, disease, and overall quality of life. This issue common in many American cities. 

Take, for example, Dallas, Texas. 

The maps below show tree equity scores of different areas of Dallas. This document further summarizes priority areas

Having higher tree canopy coverage correlates with more moderate temperatures (particularly in hotter months) and less heat-related illnesses or deaths. 

So, it is imperative that more are made aware about this issue and we take steps to combat this inequity. To do this, we plan to host an event where we will plant trees in high-priority zones (as indicated by the Texas Trees Foundation Tree Equity Planting Map) to take a step towards making areas in need in our city more green. 

Specifically, our high school campus (Plano East Senior High), has a tree equity score of 82, which is moderately low, and a heat disparity of 0.9 degrees higher than surrounding areas. 

In an effort to make a step towards combatting this issue, I organized a tree-planting event on campus and ended up planting several Oak trees in tree-lacking areas.