1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Phoenix (FUA) Region Northern America Short description of the intervention Minimizing heat stress is a top priority for Phoenix, the hottest major city in the U.S. In 2023, extreme heat contributed to at least 359 deaths across Maricopa County. Phoenix is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with extensive concrete and asphalt, increased pollution, higher population densities, and concentrated infrastructure that exacerbate the urban heat island effect, drought, and extreme weather. Moreover, the heat disproportionately impacts lower-income and Hispanic neighborhoods, which tend to have less tree canopy and fewer resources to cope with rising temperatures. To address these challenges and promote tree equity in underserved neighborhoods, the City of Phoenix, along with the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, launched the Community Canopy Grant Program in 2023. The concept of tree equity refers to identifying areas with low tree coverage and high social need, then prioritizing investments in these areas. By improving tree equity, the program aims to assist neighborhood associations and community members in areas that need it most. The Community Canopy Grant Program targets neighborhoods within Qualifying Census Tracts across Phoenix, and one of the first neighborhoods to benefit was Westwood. In early 2024, community members gathered to plant 200 box trees for residents who received grants, marking the largest City-sponsored neighborhood tree planting event of the season. These tree plantings aim to provide much-needed shade for homes while fostering community engagement, helping to mitigate heat stress and build stronger, more resilient neighborhoods. (1-5) Website of the intervention https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/environmental-programs/3039 Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Heat stress & Extreme temperatures Environmental Degradation Air pollution Land use and Socio-economic change Unequal availability and access to public green spaces Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature) Poor community engagement Implementation area characterization Climate Arid (Desert, Steppe) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Westwood Phoenix , 85015 United States Location The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by). Area boundary (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image Source: https://www.phoenix.gov/nsdsite/Documents/106524.pdf Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Residential Mixed-use development (combination of residential, commercial, and/or industrial) Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2023 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2024 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention The goals of the Westwood Tree Planting Project were to: To advance justice, equity, and fairness within the local urban forest. To promote efforts to reduce the impact of urban heat island effect and extreme heat on our changing climate. To enhance green spaces for community members to use comfortably throughout the year. To increase community engagement through tree planting events. To provide the community with the skills and tools necessary to care for trees and ensure their long-term success and involve them in management practices To prioritize green investments in areas with low tree coverage and high social needs. To assist communities in increasing their tree canopies to foster a more resilient, sustainable, equitable, healthy, and thriving environment. To increase tree cover to improve air quality, provide shade, and create habitat for wildlife. (1, 3) Key Priorities Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation) Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Environmental quality Air quality improvement Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Health and well-being (SDG 3) Improving physical health Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16) Effective management Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social justice and equity Social interaction Environmental education Environmental and climate justice Sense of community and community engagement Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The Westwood neighborhood is a Qualifying Census Tract neighborhood with low tree coverage and high social needs (1). To address this, the City of Phoenix and the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation engaged in the following activities: 1. Founded the Community Canopy Grant where neighborhood associations, community nonprofits, multi-family residential sites, non-residential sites and community members within the City’s Qualified Census Tracts can submit applications seeking trees, supplies and support for tree planting projects (1). 2. Received funding for the program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (3). 3. Planted 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood through an organized community event (3). 4. Provided residents with a supply bag equipped with an irrigation timer, a moisture meter, a 100-foot hose, two t-shirts as well as information on their trees and how to care for them (3). 5. Contracted West Coast Arborists to plant trees for grant recipients (3). Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of any other green urban spaces Knowledge creation and awareness raising Educational and awareness raising programs Strategy, plan or policy development Creation of city-wide or neighborhood climate adaptation or mitigation strategies/programs Creation of city-wide or neighborhood green and blue infrastrcuture protection or enhancement strategies/plans Community-based programs (e.g. "Green Your Laneway Program") Improved governance of green or blue areas Creation of new, innovative governance and management approaches 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Grey infrastructure featuring greens Other Please specify "other urban green space connected to grey infrastructure" Residential Green Space Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Local climate regulation (temperature reduction) Air quality regulation Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Mental and physical health and wellbeing Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The Westwood neighborhood is located in a Qualifying Census Tract meaning that 50 percent of households have incomes below 60 percent of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI) or have a poverty rate of 25 percent or more (1). The neighborhood is identified as an area with low tree coverage and high social needs (1). The average age ranges between 25 to 44 years (6). Over 80 percent of the population identifies within a minority group, primarily hispanic (6). Over 60 percent of the households in the neighborhood are listed as family-households (6). Socio-economic profile of the area Low-income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Yes Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities Low-income neighborhoods Urban heat islands Minority or marginalized ethnic groups Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Marginalized groups Specify primary beneficiaries The program is developed to enhance and fund green spaces for community members, specifically Qualifying Census Tract neighborhoods which are low-income areas (1). Marginalized groups Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed) Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed): Applicants to the program have to be Qualifying Census Tracts neighborhoods (1). Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities Targeted outreach and engagement efforts with vulnerable or marginalized communities to understand concerns or identify risks Implementation of specific programs to address the needs of these communities Provision of resources tailored to the unique challenges faced by vulnerable or marginalized groups Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification) City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality) Public health (e.g. increased physical activity opportunities, reduced stress) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Government-led Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative Government: The City of Phoenix and the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation is responsible for initiating the grant program, approving applicants and providing the resources for tree planting projects (1-4) Citizens or community group: The residents of the Westwood Neighborhood applied for the grant to get funding for a tree planting project and are responsible for tree care after installation (1, 3). National government: funding for the grant program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (3). Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Citizens or community group Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) National government Stages of citizen and community engagement Planning and design (e.g. site selection, identification of key priorities) On-the-ground implementation Monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes Other Please specify other stage Grant Application Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings Formation of community-led groups responsible for the the implementation, maintenace or monitoring of the project Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping) Dissemination of information and education Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Citizen monitoring and review Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Unknown Land owners Other Please specify other landowner Private land owned by homeowners (1) Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Yes Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan The grant program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (3) If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme/type of the plan National Disaster Risk Reduction Plans NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Yes Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan" The project is part of the Community Canopy grant program which offers free trees and tree planting support for residents and neighborhoods (3). Relevant strategy or plan City specific climate change policy or plan City specific green space strategy or plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Capacity-building projects Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. -Funds or subsidies investment for GI/NBS in the city: the United States Forest Service announced that the City of Phoenix was awarded a $10 million grant to support tree planting efforts in heat-vulnerable areas (2). -Capacity-building projects: The Community Canopy grant program, and the Canopy for Kids grant program (2). Governace and decison-making instruments Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans) Economic and fiscal instruments (e.g. subsidies or grants, charges or fees, payments for ecosystem services (PES)) Public - community agreement (e.g. citizen science programs; citizen assemblies) Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers Unknown. Financing Total cost Less than €10,000 Please specify total cost (EUR) The maximum amount for event expenses is 1812.02 EUR per neighborhood through the grant program (1). What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? The maximum amount for event expenses is 1812.02 EUR per neighborhood through the grant program (1). Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Public national budget Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of land Provision of labour Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Risk reduction model Local stewardship model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Climate change Lowered local temperature Expected lowered local temperature Energy efficiency improvements Expected energy efficiency improvements Environmental quality Improved air quality Expected improved air quality Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Description of environmental benefits 1. Lowered local temperature: "Trees and vegetation lower both surface and air temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration. Shaded surfaces may be 20–45 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials, according to the EPA." (5) 2. Energy efficiency improvements: “Planting more trees allows us to mitigate heat, conserve energy and provide more shade for our residents.” (2) 3. Improved air quality: “If you have more trees, then you have cleaner air. That protection from the sun protects people from short-term and long-term … health impacts, Martens said." (4). 4. Increased green space area: "The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood on Saturday, March 2."; "brought Westwood Neighborhood residents together to plant 198 trees, the largest neighborhood planting of the season" (3). Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 1 (3) Economic impacts Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions) Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions) Description of economic benefits 1. Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions): "Trees for the tree planting are being supplied by Treeland Nurseries and contractor West Coast Arborists will plant trees for grant recipients" (3) Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Improved access to urban green space Achieved improved access to urban green space Increased opportunities for social interaction Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Expected increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Health and wellbeing Improved physical health Expected improved physical health Education Increased support for education and scientific research Achieved increased support for education and scientific research Social and cultural impact indicators Number of community events, gatherings, or volunteer activities organized in green spaces 1 (3) Description of social and cultural benefits 1. Improved physical health: "“If you have more trees, then you have cleaner air. That protection from the sun protects people from short-term and long-term … health impacts,” Martens said. “If we can … provide more shade for people, (they) can be outside and active just even a few more hours of the day (and) that will actually have … health impacts.” (4) 2. Increased opportunities for social interaction: “The goal of these tree plantings is to provide more shade to homes in Phoenix neighborhoods as well as bring communities together. A lot of these residents are meeting their neighbors for the first time." (3) 3. Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: " each resident will receive a supply bag equipped with an irrigation timer, a moisture meter, a 100-foot hose, two t-shirts as well as information on their trees and how to care for them." (3) 4. Improved access to urban green space: "The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood." (3) 5. Increased support for education and scientific research: "The City of Phoenix will provide grantees with a supply bag of materials to support the establishment and survival of each tree. Each supply bag will have a moisture meter and battery to determine the moisture of the soil near the tree, a hose, an irrigation timer, a watering calendar and educational materials to provide knowledge and understanding of proper maintenance practices." (1) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts Citizens or community group Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Outcome indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports No evidence in public records Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown. Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Public disclosure of project funding sources and/or budgets Justice Community satisfaction Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project -"I am incredibly proud to represent such a vibrant and engaged community," Councilwoman Laura Pastor said. “It brings me great joy to see so many of my constituents taking advantage of the Community Canopy grant program, as it not only beautifies our neighborhoods but also has numerous environmental benefits." (3) Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement Unknown High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) Yes Goal setting and impacts delivery No, although benefits were delivered in all the 3 key areas, but in the planning phase, the project did not aim to address issues in all the 3 key priority areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Please specify the achievements of the project goals Climate action: 1. Lowered local temperature: "Trees and vegetation lower both surface and air temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration. Shaded surfaces may be 20–45 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials, according to the EPA." (5) 2. Energy efficiency improvements: “Planting more trees allows us to mitigate heat, conserve energy and provide more shade for our residents.” (2) 3. Improved air quality: “If you have more trees, then you have cleaner air. That protection from the sun protects people from short-term and long-term … health impacts, Martens said." (4). 4. Increased green space area: "The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood on Saturday, March 2." (3). Social justice and community: 1. Improved physical health: "“If you have more trees, then you have cleaner air. That protection from the sun protects people from short-term and long-term … health impacts,” Martens said. “If we can … provide more shade for people, (they) can be outside and active just even a few more hours of the day (and) that will actually have … health impacts.” (4) 2. Increased opportunities for social interaction: “The goal of these tree plantings is to provide more shade to homes in Phoenix neighborhoods as well as bring communities together. A lot of these residents are meeting their neighbors for the first time." (3) 3. Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: " each resident will receive a supply bag equipped with an irrigation timer, a moisture meter, a 100-foot hose, two t-shirts as well as information on their trees and how to care for them." (3) 4. Improved access to urban green space: "The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood." (3) 5. Increased support for education and scientific research: "The City of Phoenix will provide grantees with a supply bag of materials to support the establishment and survival of each tree. Each supply bag will have a moisture meter and battery to determine the moisture of the soil near the tree, a hose, an irrigation timer, a watering calendar and educational materials to provide knowledge and understanding of proper maintenance practices." (1) Long-term perspective Yes Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. City of Phoenix (n.d.). City of Phoenix Community Canopy Grant. [Source link] [Archive]; 2. City of Phoenix (2023). Phoenix Awarded $10 Million to Expand Tree Planting Efforts. [Source link] [Archive]; 3. City of Phoenix (2024). City of Phoenix Hosts Its Largest Neighborhood Tree Planting Event of the Season. [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Bradshaw, Z. (2023). Phoenix funding trees and shade structures for underserved communities. [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Arizona Technology Council (n.d.). In low-income Phoenix neighborhoods, the lack of shade trees is a question of equity. [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Maricopa Association of Governments (n.d.). Arizona Demographics . [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood on Saturday, March 2, marking it as the biggest City-sponsored neighborhood tree planting event of the season. City of Phoenix Image Westwood Neighborhood https://x.com/CityofPhoenixAZ/status/1765853470727545161 Image Westwood Neighborhood https://x.com/CityofPhoenixAZ/status/1765853470727545161 Image Westwood Neighborhood https://x.com/CityofPhoenixAZ/status/1765853470727545161
Image The City of Phoenix is planting approximately 200 24" box trees for grant recipients living in a Westwood neighborhood on Saturday, March 2, marking it as the biggest City-sponsored neighborhood tree planting event of the season. City of Phoenix
