Street tree diversity reveals a legacy of redlining

Abstract

In a recent article published in the journal Ecology, our research team reported that neighborhoods in Baltimore that were redlined have consistently lower street tree diversity and are nine times less likely to have large (old) trees occupying a viable planting site. What does this mean for those who live in these neighborhoods, and what steps might cities like Baltimore take to mitigate this structural challenge in their urban forests? For biodiversity experts, street trees provide a unique study population because trees can live for many decades, and patterns of street tree size, distribution, and diversity reflect both present-day and historical public policy and management decisions