The Philly Tree Plan is an ambitious endeavor of the City of Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation to plant over one million trees while maintaining existing tree cover, focusing on communities with the highest need for additional tree cover, and with a goal of increasing the urban tree canopy to 30 percent by 2050. To gain multilateral support for the plan, the department sought support from ESI to evaluate the potential economic, social, and environmental benefits that could accrue to the city and residents due to implementation of the plan.
ESI developed estimates of the monetary value of the social and environmental benefits from the Philly Tree Plan, based on economic and scientific research. Using economic modeling ESI estimated the benefits with an emphasis on the plan’s alignment with environmental justice goals as it focuses on neighborhoods most affected by heat and poor air quality.
Environmental Benefits: Estimated annual benefits include $12.5 million from reduced air pollution, $1.2 million from carbon sequestration, $3.6 million in residential energy savings, and $2.8 million from stormwater uptake.
Health Benefits: Potential reductions in obesity rates, improved mental health, and avoidance of 403 premature deaths annually, valued at $5 billion per year.
Social Benefits: Decreased crime rates, with a 12 percent reduction in robbery, theft, and shootings, potentially saving $50 million annually.
Economic Impact: The plan is projected to generate over $1.6 billion in economic impact from capital investments and $20 million annually from tree care staffing and contracting. It would support over 1,000 jobs during the tree planting period and 130 jobs annually from ongoing operations.
Employment Opportunities: The plan would create jobs accessible to residents without a bachelor’s degree and support minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.
The Philly Tree Plan addresses environmental justice by focusing on neighborhoods with the highest need for additional tree cover. These areas, identified through the City’s tree canopy assessment and other environmental and demographic variables, include communities like Cobbs Creek, Point Breeze, and Kensington. These neighborhoods are often socioeconomically disadvantaged and suffer from higher heat exposure and poorer air quality.