Urban Forestry and Community Health: A Health in All Policies Approach to Urban Forest Management

Research regarding the relationship between the physical environment and community health is building.  Green infrastructure in urban communities has been noted for its human health benefits, including: cleaning air and water, promoting physical activity, moderating climate and improving mental health.  However, access to such ecosystem services often varies within cities, reflecting a dimension of urban health disparities and environmental injustice.

This study examines the spatial relationships among forestry, community health and socioeconomic status in Baltimore, Maryland to inform a “Health in all Policies” approach to local planning and policy-making.

This study utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the relationship at the scale of the Community Statistical Area (CSA).  Data sources include: 2010 CSA boundary and tree canopy GIS shape-files (City of Baltimore), household income (U.S. Census Bureau), and health outcome statistics (City of Baltimore “2011 Neighborhood Health Profiles”).

Data were adapted in GIS to the scale of the CSA.  Each CSA was ranked independently on indicators of tree canopy, socioeconomic status and health; then were combined to develop an “Urban Forest Prioritization” map, which highlights CSAs with low tree canopy coverage, poor health status and low socioeconomic status.

Based on preliminary findings, low tree canopy coverage, low median household income and poor health status appear to be correlated.  Therefore in Baltimore, poorer and less healthy neighborhoods have fewer forest resources. 

The findings may be used to inform local policy and decisions that do not typically utilize health data, such as the urban forest management plan, comprehensive and neighborhood plans, and transportation and capital improvement plans and policies.