Bill Overview
Title: Neighborhood Tree Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides for additional assistance to states, Indian tribes, units of local government, approved organizations, and local community tree volunteer groups to plant and maintain trees. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall establish a Neighborhood Tree Fund from which to provide assistance to such entities to increase and improve the overall health of the tree canopies in their communities. In providing the assistance, USDA must give priority to those entities with proposed projects that include and prioritize tree planting and tree maintenance in underserved communities and neighborhoods, including those that are low-income or have a lower tree canopy. The bill modifies the composition of the membership of the Forestry Advisory Council by (1) increasing the number of council members to 16, and (2) including as a member of the council one individual who is the resident of a low-income community.
Sponsors: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Target Audience
Population: Global population living in urban and suburban areas
Estimated Size: 260000000
- The bill is intended to support tree planting and maintenance, which directly impacts communities where these actions are taken.
- Improved tree canopies provide environmental benefits such as reduced air pollution, better air quality, and temperature regulation, impacting residents' wellbeing.
- Underserved communities, including low-income and those with limited tree canopy, are prioritized, indicating direct impact on these populations.
- The establishment of a Neighborhood Tree Fund implies a widespread initiative affecting many communities nationally, with a special focus on those previously lacking in green infrastructure.
Reasoning
- The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2022 aims to enhance community wellbeing through environmental improvements, especially in underserved areas. The focus is on planting and maintaining trees in low-income neighborhoods, which often lack adequate green spaces.
- With a budget of $600 million in the first year and a total of $3.475 billion over 10 years, the policy targets a significant but not unlimited range of communities. As tree planting and maintenance initiatives are generally labor and cost-intensive, the reach and impact would vary across different communities.
- Simulating interviews helps gauge personal and community-level impacts, assessing changes to Cantril wellbeing scores both with and without policy implementation. The policy prioritizes environmental justice, so we expect significant improvements in wellbeing in underserved communities, where environmental quality directly impacts daily living conditions.
Simulated Interviews
Community Organizer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a dream come true for our community. We have been advocating for more green spaces for years.
- Trees not only beautify our neighborhood but also make it healthier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful but skeptical. Trees will help with the heat, but it might not be as impactful as expected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Teacher (New York City, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvement in greenery around schools can really enhance students' learning environment and health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems promising for cooling down urban areas, which is much needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adding more trees would enhance my walks and overall neighborhood beauty.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a good initiative, although my area is quite green already.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Restaurant Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that can help mitigate flooding and improve air quality is welcomed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rapid urbanization is cutting down trees, so this bill comes at a crucial time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Construction Manager (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great for the construction industry and environmental impact, but must be balanced with urban development demands.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Urban Planner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing more trees aligns perfectly with sustainable urban planning goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $650000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 5: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The focus on underserved communities could promote social equity and environmental justice.
- Implementation challenges will arise in terms of ensuring funds are allocated properly and that projects are effectively maintained.
- Community involvement and local support are crucial for the success of this initiative.