A new “tree equity” map is giving Washington residents another way to see how their neighborhood’s tree canopy stacks up to others across the state.

“Tree equity” refers to the concept that all communities should have equal access to the benefits that trees provide, such as improved air quality, reduced urban heat effects and increased recreational space.

The map, created by the conservation nonprofit American Forests in partnership with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, spans communities across Washington and assigns them a “Tree Equity Score.”

That score is designed to measure how well the critical benefits of urban tree canopy are reaching those who need them most, according to American Forests.

Each area analyzed on the map receives a composite score out of 100. The

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