Understanding South Los Angeles Community Leaders’ Relationship to the Urban Forest

The Challenge

The City of Los Angeles faces an equity issue: the distribution of public street trees. Compared to L.A. City’s average of 21% tree canopy coverage, South L.A. communities average only about 13% – with some areas falling as low as 5%.

While extensive research has documented the patterns of injustices that have led to these inequities in South L.A., few studies have addressed these questions from the perspective of the impacted communities.

As the City and local decision-makers pledge to expand the urban canopy in high-need communities, it is crucial to elevate and prioritize the voices and perspectives of South L.A. residents who have been underrepresented and marginalized in tree planning and policy-making.

The Partnership

USC Dornsife Public Exchange and researchers from the Sol Price School of Public Policy have partnered with the South LA Tree Coalition (SLATC) to explore urban forestry and tree-related interests from the perspective of South L.A. residents.

Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with community leaders, the project team explored the perspectives, needs, challenges, and recommendations for future planning and engagement efforts surrounding urban forestry in South L.A.

This project will inform SLATC’s advocacy efforts moving forward and grow the direct representation of South L.A.’s diverse communities in tree-related policy and decision-making processes.

The Findings

Three key takeaways emerged from 34 interviews with South L.A. community leaders:

Trees in South L.A. play a role in community leaders’ perceptions of neighborhood identity, environmental conditions, as well as public health and safety.

Competing priorities, limited resources, and lack of awareness present barriers to tree-related planning efforts in the community.

Community leaders value healthy tree canopy in South L.A. and envision a future with equitable and intentional greenery supported by community initiatives and proper maintenance.

“It takes a village to get things done, no one agency can build the park, no one agency can maintain the park, no one agency can program the park, no one agency can do any of those things. Together, we can.” – Study participant

Impact

This research brings community voices forward to contribute to tree-related interests and priorities in South L.A. It aims to support future planning, policy, and advocacy efforts by the South LA Tree Coalition and other local decision-makers.