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).

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

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....