Curb Canopy

Tree Equity in Richmond, VA

81.8
Tree Equity Score
23.5%
Canopy Cover
21.0%
Canopy Gap
6
Priority Areas
* Sources & data verification →
Data-only cityEquity data available. Programs, species, and local info need community input.
Share local info →

What is the Tree Equity Score?

American Forests' Tree Equity Score combines tree canopy coverage, surface temperature, income, employment, race, age, and health data to identify where trees are needed most. Scores range from 0 to 100, and areas below 60 are priority for investment.

View Richmond on Tree Equity Score ↗
81.8
TES Score / 100
23.5%
Current Canopy
43.9%
Canopy Goal
21.0%
Canopy Gap
Current: 23.5%Goal: 43.9%
Current canopy
Gap to goal

Environmental Benefits

Carbon Sequestered
50.3K tons CO₂/yr
+26.6K tons if gap closed
Stormwater Intercepted
357.4M gal/yr
Avg Tree Shade at Noon
34.5%
Canopy Area
49.0 km²
of 153.2 km² total

Estimated using i-Tree urban canopy rates. Methodology ↗

Equity Indicators

These factors show how tree canopy gaps overlap with social and environmental vulnerabilities.

1930s Redlining
65.3%
of neighborhoods were graded "hazardous" or "declining" on 1930s federal lending maps. Banks refused to invest in these areas, and many are still under-treed decades later.
Environmental Justice
62.1%
of neighborhoods are classified as overburdened by the White House's Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool, meaning they face outsized pollution, poverty, or health risks. Trees help, but they're not the whole fix.
Heat Island Effect
+8.6°F
hotter than surrounding areas on average. Pavement absorbs heat, trees block it. That's the whole pitch.
People in the Data
226,610
people live across the 190 Census block groups we analyzed. That's who these numbers represent.
Data last updated: Feb 2026

Help build the Richmond page

We have Tree Equity data but this city is missing free tree programs, local nurseries, native species info, and community partners. Your local knowledge turns a data page into something people can actually use.

Share what you know →
Local Partners
Data only

We know Richmond, VA's canopy coverage to the decimal. The "where do I get a free tree" part? Still digging through PDFs from 2011.

Know a local tree program? Tell us →