Tree Cover

The Tree Cover indicator measures the amount of tree canopy within the neighborhood. Numerous positive health outcomes are related to increased tree coverage: trees absorb air pollution and release oxygen which has been shown to enhance respiratory health, reduce fatigue and increase productivity; they promote physical activity, lower stress, and help control weight. Tree also absorb and block sound, with the ability to reduce noise pollution by as much as 40 percent. Finally, tree cover reduces exposure to UV rays, the cause of sun burns and skin cancer, and lowers air temperatures. Listed under the Natural Areas domain, the Tree Cover indicator also impacts the Economic Health, Health Systems and Public Safety, Housing, Neighborhood Characteristics, Social Cohesion, and Environmental Hazards domains. Data on Tree Cover is available from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD).

Neighborhoodsort descending Indicator Value Rank
Acipco-Finley 2.1% 58
Airport Highlands 0.1% 75
Apple Valley 36.4% 15
Arlington - West End 0.0% 77
Belview Heights 0.6% 65
Bridlewood 14.5% 31
Brown Springs 14.5% 31
Brownsville Heights 9.5% 37
Brummitt Heights 68.8% 3
Bush Hills 4.6% 51
Central City 0.0% 77
Central Park 0.2% 74
Central Pratt 15.7% 28
College Hills 0.0% 77
Collegeville 0.3% 73
Crestline 5.9% 45
Crestwood North 0.0% 77
Crestwood South 24.3% 25
Dolomite 27.7% 20
Druid Hills 0.0% 77
East Avondale 0.5% 69
East Birmingham 0.0% 77
East Brownville 2.0% 60
East Lake 5.0% 49
East Thomas 1.9% 61
Eastwood 8.6% 38
Echo Highlands 38.1% 14
Enon Ridge 0.0% 77
Ensley 0.4% 71
Ensley Highlands 0.6% 65
Evergreen 2.4% 56
Fairmont 35.9% 17
Fairview 0.0% 77
Five Points South 8.3% 40
Forest Park 1.6% 62
Fountain Heights 0.0% 77
Garden Highlands 43.1% 12
Gate City 8.2% 42
Germania Park 1.4% 64
Glen Iris 6.4% 44
Grasselli Heights 0.0% 77
Graymont 0.0% 77
Green Acres 4.0% 54
Harriman Park 5.5% 47
Highland Park 0.0% 77
Hillman 0.0% 77
Hillman Park 0.0% 77
Hooper City 60.8% 7
Huffman 29.0% 19
Industrial Center 4.5% 52
Inglenook 3.3% 55
Jones Valley 10.9% 35
Killough Springs 26.5% 23
Kingston 5.8% 46
Liberty Highlands 54.4% 9
Maple Grove 66.5% 5
Mason City 15.0% 30
North Avondale 0.0% 77
North Birmingham 1.5% 63
North East Lake 0.6% 65
North Pratt 32.0% 18
North Titusville 0.6% 65
Norwood 2.1% 58
Oak Ridge 10.3% 36
Oak Ridge Park 25.0% 24
Oakwood Place 0.1% 75
Overton 72.4% 1
Oxmoor 55.1% 8
Penfield Park 27.4% 21
Pine Knoll Vista 66.4% 6
Powderly 4.5% 52
Redmont Park 26.8% 22
Riley 2.2% 57
Rising - West Princeton 0.0% 77
Roebuck 8.5% 39
Roebuck Springs 41.0% 13
Roosevelt 11.9% 34
Sandusky 20.9% 26
Sherman Heights 70.7% 2
Smithfield 0.0% 77
Smithfield Estates 66.9% 4
South East Lake 43.4% 11
South Pratt 0.0% 77
South Titusville 0.0% 77
South Woodlawn 0.0% 77
Southside 0.0% 77
Spring Lake 13.2% 33
Sun Valley 17.6% 27
Tarpley City 36.3% 16
Thomas 4.8% 50
Tuxedo 0.0% 77
Wahouma 0.0% 77
West Brownville 15.4% 29
West End Manor 5.1% 48
West Goldwire 44.5% 10
Woodland Park 0.5% 69
Woodlawn 0.4% 71
Wylam 8.3% 40
Zion City 7.1% 43

Key Citations:
1. Bowler DE, Buyung-Ali LM, Knight TM, Pullin AS. (2010) A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health. 2010 Aug 4;10:456. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20684754
2. Grant RH, Heisler GM, Gao W. (2002) Estimation of pedestrian level UV exposure under trees. Photochem Photobiol. 2002 Apr; 75(4):369-76. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12003126
3. Nowak, D. (2002). The Effects of Urban Trees on Air Quality. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Available at: http://nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/local-resources/downloads/Tree_Air_Qual....