How many trees do you see in your neighborhood? Help us report on shade in Miami-Dade.
In 2007, Miami-Dade county officials created the goal to increase the county’s tree canopy coverage to 30% by 2020. A tree canopy cover is the percent of a given land area that is covered by leaves and branches when viewed from above. The county failed to meet its original canopy goal and as of 2020, the canopy sits at 20.1%. Over the past five to six years, the canopy has seen little to no improvement.
In a time of severe heat, trees can help cool down communities, and Florida is one of the states most impacted by rising temperatures due to climate change. Trees also help mitigate the effects of air pollution and flooding, increase property value and protect residents from the harsh effects of the sun.
Researchers at the University of Florida and Florida International University teamed up with the county in 2016 and 2021 to take a look at the county’s tree canopy and found that within Miami-Dade, communities of color and low-income communities tend to have fewer trees. Some areas identified with the lowest number of trees include Hialeah, Opa-locka and Medley.
We want to hear from the people who are experiencing the daily impact of having few trees and little to no shade in their communities to help inform our upcoming investigation. Some of the effects of having few trees in your neighborhood could include higher electric bills or respiratory issues. It also may look like never seeing neighbors taking walks down the street. If any of these experiences relate to you, please fill out our form.
You can also help us report by sharing the link to this page on social media, with friends and other community members.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
