Tree Equity: Growing Greener, Fairer Cities One Order At A Time

In Canada and the United States, about 80 percent of people live in urban areas. Most of their daily connection to nature is not a national park. It is the street trees, small parks, boulevards, and community green spaces right outside their homes.

At SHIPAID, we believe sustainable commerce is not just about planting trees. It is about planting the right trees in the right places so communities can thrive.

What Is Tree Equity And Why It Matters

Tree equity is the idea that everyone, regardless of income, race, or neighborhood, should have access to the benefits of trees.

Today, tree cover in many cities is deeply unequal. Wealthier neighborhoods tend to have more trees and shade. Lower-income areas often have fewer trees, higher temperatures, worse air quality, and greater climate risk.

Why Trees Matter In Cities

Urban trees create real, measurable benefits. They:

• Cool neighborhoods by several degrees, reducing heat stress
• Improve air quality and reduce respiratory illness
• Support mental health and lower anxiety and depression
• Support biodiversity by giving wildlife places to live
• Encourage active lifestyles and community connections

When those benefits are not shared equally, the result is a fairness gap that falls along lines of race and income. That is where businesses and tools like SHIPAID can help.

Measuring And Mapping Tree Equity

Tree equity is backed by data, not just good intentions.

• In Canada, groups like Nature Canada map tree cover against income and race to find areas that need more greening.
• In the United States, American Forests created the Tree Equity Score, which uses data like canopy cover, population density, income, and race to give neighborhoods a 0 to 100 score. Low scores show where new trees are needed most.

These tools guide reforestation efforts and give businesses a way to support targeted, high-impact urban greening.

What Good Urban Forests Look Like

Tree equity is not only about planting more trees. It is about planting smarter:

• Species that reflect local Indigenous knowledge and community needs
• High biodiversity, not a single species planted everywhere
• Green space for all, aiming for strong canopy cover in every neighborhood
• Connected tree corridors that support wildlife and ecosystem health

When urban reforestation is done well, it restores ecosystems, respects culture, and strengthens cities from the ground up.

How SHIPAID Helps Businesses Support Tree Equity

Every time you work with SHIPAID, you are not only improving your post-purchase experience. You are also unlocking real-world impact.

Through our partnership with veritree, we help merchants fund verified, high-integrity reforestation projects, including urban tree equity projects in under-resourced communities.

What sets veritree apart:

• Data-backed transparency so you know where and what is being planted
• Impact reporting you can share with your customers
• Verified, community-led projects that focus on equity, biodiversity, and climate resilience

With SHIPAID, you can move past generic offsets and help restore ecosystems where your customers actually live.

Turning Shipments Into Urban Forests

Tree equity is about justice. It is about restoring balance in built environments, protecting health, and giving every community the chance to breathe and thrive.

Whether you are a Shopify brand or a large eCommerce operation, your shipping strategy can become a climate action strategy. With SHIPAID, every guaranteed order can help support projects that bring more trees to the neighborhoods that need them most.

Want your shipments to support tree equity in a meaningful way? Our team can connect you with high-impact projects that align with your mission.

Updated on: 03/12/2025