Spatial and Temporal Variations in Canopy Cover and Ecosystem Services in Neighborhoods of the City of Orlando

Authors

Digna M. Rivera-Reyes, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras CampusFollow
Elvia J. Melendez-Ackerman, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras CampusFollow
Luis E. Velazquez-Roman, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras CampusFollow

Publication Date

12-18-2025

Many cities are prioritizing urban tree planting to improve livability through ecosystem services. Yet, urban studies often reveal inequities in tree canopy cover across socio-economic groups. Using an environmental justice framework, this study analyzed 80 residential neighborhoods in Orlando, Florida—using census and iTree data—to assess relationships between land cover, canopy change, ecosystem services, and socio-economic variation. We specifically asked: a) Is tree canopy cover (and associated ecosystem services) equitably distributed across Orlando neighborhoods, or is it correlated with their socio-economic and demographic profiles? b) Has Orlando’s overall canopy cover increased since 2010? c) Do tree requests submitted by residents to the City vary by neighborhood? An overall working hypothesis was that, given the city’s history with reforestation programs, canopy cover increased but not necessarily equally across neighborhoods given their socio-economic and demographic diversity. Results showed that although overall canopy cover showed a slight increase (2%) at the city scale, neighborhood-level canopy cover and canopy cover changes varied widely in magnitude and direction (increases vs. reductions). Regression analyses showed no significant relationships were found between socio-economic variables and vegetation (nor ecosystem service) metrics, except for grass/herbaceous cover, where models explained only 4% of the variation. The percent canopy change showed a slight association only with population density but this relationship was weak suggesting that factors other than socio-economic diversity have had a larger influence on the current tree canopy variation across neighborhoods. City records indicate that city-wide processes related to urban development and geographic expansion most likely have had a dominant effect on current canopy distribution and past canopy change dynamics. An important result was that tree requests/person were higher in wealthier and more Hispanic neighborhoods and lower in densely populated areas. These findings suggest that while socio-economic factors may not currently explain canopy distribution, they could drive future inequities through how reforestation programs are implemented if not dealt with. Results from this research contribute to the growing literature on urban environmental justice and emphasize the need to understand how multi-scale social factors may influence the outcomes of urban reforestation programs and their role in mitigating green inequalities.

Recommended Citation

Rivera-Reyes, Digna M.; Melendez-Ackerman, Elvia J.; and Velazquez-Roman, Luis E. (2025) "Spatial and Temporal Variations in Canopy Cover and Ecosystem Services in Neighborhoods of the City of Orlando," Cities and the Environment (CATE): Vol. 18: Iss. 3, Article 1.
DOI: 10.15365/1932-7048.1360
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol18/iss3/1

DOI

10.15365/1932-7048.1360