Environmental justice and factors that influence participation in tree planting programs in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Abstract

Many cities have policies encouraging homeowners to plant trees. For these policies to be effective, it is important to understand what motivates a homeowner's tree-planting decision. Researchers address this question by identifying variables that influence participation in a tree-planting program in Portland, Oregon, U.S. According to the study, homeowners with street trees, and those living in older homes, are more likely to participate in the local program. Homeowners who had owned their homes for longer, and those who live in census-block groups with lower high-school graduation rates, are less likely to participate in the program. Results suggest that tree-planting programs may inadvertently exacerbate environmental inequality. © 2014 International Society of Arboriculture.