New Arbor Day Foundation Video Showcases Trees as Force for Equity

The video takes viewers to Nashville as local leaders try to combat urban heat islands

The Arbor Day Foundation highlighted the impact of a recent environmental justice planting project in a new video.

The project targeted 11 high-priority neighborhoods, including Parkwood Estates and Oakwood, both of which are featured in the video. These low-income communities have often been overlooked for infrastructure funding, resulting in fewer green spaces. The lack of trees has created urban heat islands, areas where temperatures can increase by 10 degrees or more.

Local planting organization Cumberland River Compact, the lead of the city’s Root Nashville tree planting campaign, sought to combat those heat islands. Through an environmental justice grant provided by the Arbor Day Foundation, the planting organization developed a grassroots plan to connect with homeowners about planting trees. The initiative showcases the ability to address inequities by planting the right trees in the right places.

The Cumberland River Compact was one of eight tree planting organizations around the United States to receive an environmental justice grant from the Arbor Day Foundation. Organizations received $100,000 over a two-year period.

Click here to see the Root Nashville campaign’s grassroots effort in action in the full video.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation — alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters and valued partners — has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.

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