On January 16th, the City of Ottawa delivered an informative webinar to present updates on the Tree Equity Analysis. In the webinar, hosted by Clean Air Partnership, City Planning Foresters Martha Copestake and Zoe Bedford discussed Ottawa's approach to addressing tree inequity and demonstrated how the neighbourhood equity analysis scores are to be calculated.
Urban tree canopy is often correlated with socio-economic inequalities, with equity-deserving neighbourhoods typically having lower canopy coverage. To support equitable access to urban forest canopy, the City is conducting a tree equity analysis and use its findings to prioritize tree planting under the City's Tree Planting Strategy.
The Tree Planting Strategy is the feature project within the 2nd period of the Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). The strategy is action-oriented and will involve proactive planting, a stronger focus on increasing diverse species, and a neighbourhood equity lens in view of the 40% canopy cover goal. This phase of the UFMP will also include a new private land planting program that will be rolled out this spring 2025.
To conduct the equity analysis, the city will be utilizing the American Forests Tree Equity Score tool, which produces a score that evaluates canopy distribution from 0-100 using census data on socioeconomic and health factors with tree canopy. This tool has been used and implemented throughout the USA, the United Kingdom and in Toronto.
Formula:
Tree Equity Scores (0-100) = (Tree Canopy Goal - Existing Canopy) x Priority Score
The "Tree Canopy Goal" is assessed by looking at a baseline target (40%) and adjusting this with existing building density. The "Priority" score is measured using data on 7 indicators (health, age, employment/unemployment rate, heat severity, race, language, and income/poverty), with values ranged from 0.1 to 1, with 1 being more at risk.
City staff are still awaiting the "Existing Canopy" data; however once this is available, the equity scores will be calculated and made publicly available. The next steps once the scores are ready will include staff looking at the priority neighbourhoods on foot, creating consultation plans with communities, and engaging in tree planting by harnessing existing programs and/or trying new approaches.
Combining Tree Equity Scores from all neighbourhoods will give a city-wide score, and by targeting priority areas first, it will raise the city-wide score faster.
In terms of a timeline, staff expect to report back before summer 2025 with the neighbourhood equity scores, and expect to be on the ground in the priority neighbourhoods around spring 2026.
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Visit the links below to view the webinar recording, slides and a meeting summary.
Additional resources:
