BOISE, Idaho — Lining the streets of Boise’s North End are stands of tall trees, with broad leaves that merge into a canopy, providing cool shade to pedestrians in the summer months.
Outside of the North End, Boise residents have fewer trees. That means less respite from the sun’s broiling heat that coincides, according to studies, with a higher frequency of poverty, health problems and other issues.
Studies have shown that tree canopy — coverage created by mature shade trees — can be linked to myriad socioeconomic factors. Poorer neighborhoods tend to have less canopy coverage, meaning more paved surfaces and higher temperatures. Unequal distributions of tree abundance and diversity have also been shown in parts of the country to connect to racial, educational, age and income-based inequalities.
