Date of Award

Fall 9-2025

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Environmental Studies

Advisor(s)

John Van Buren

Abstract

NYC’s urban forest is composed of 7 million trees and the infrastructure which supports them. These trees have incredible value in almost every sense of the word; they provide essential ecosystem services such as climate modification and air purification that are otherwise impossible or enormously costly to manage. Contrarily, a lack of tree coverage in an urbanized area can contribute negatively to the health, economics, and overall quality of life for a neighborhood’s residents. This paper analyzes the impact trees have in New York City through a socioeconomic lens by comparing tree metrics and their collective influence in various neighborhoods, highlighting how urban forestry contributes to established neighborhoods and how a lack of trees further isolates low-income areas. Chapter 1 provides quantitative data on inequalities in urban forestry in NYC as well as on the ecosystem services that trees perform. Chapter 2 summarizes the intricate history of urban forestry in New York City, starting with a history of the Lenape, Manhattan’s original landscape, and how urbanization transformed local ecosystems. Then, there is a brief explanation of environmental injustice in NYC, followed by an account of environmental politics for NYC’s trees. Chapter 3 examines the public health impact of urban forestry, including a focus on environmental racism. Chapter 4 offers a cost-benefits analysis of NYC’s urban forest. Finally, Chapter 5 compiles data examined to outline efficient policy recommendations that utilize urban forestry to advance environmental justice goals, offering advice on government, community involvement, public education, planting procedures, and long-term maintenance.

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