Houston's Regional Forest - Background Information
Houston's Regional Forest
The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Urban Trees
Background Information
 The following information provides further reading opportunities related to tress and air quality planning in Texas.

Houston region research on trees and air quality
  • Urban Ecosystem Analysis for the Houston Gulf Coast Region (Adobe PDF)
    In 2002, American Forests conducted an Urban Ecosystem Analysis for this region to calculate tree canopy loss and the value of the benefits tree cover provides. The analysis also makes recommendations that encourage the development of new policies that will protect and add to the region's green infrastructure.
  • Cool Houston! A Plan for Cooling the Region
    The Cool Houston Plan, completed by HARC in 2004, identifies ways the region can combat the urban heat island effect through the use of cool roofs, cool paving, and trees.
  • Houston's Regional Forest
    This study of the Structure, Functions, and Values of the Houston region's forests uses the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model to calculate the value that trees provide. The report details that our forests provide an unprecedented amount of value to the region and serves as a basis to support the protection and planting of trees.
  • Texas Environmental Research Consortium (TERC)
    On the TERC web site, you can find research that has been done on air quality, including urban heat island modeling.
Supportive Texas legislation
  • Bills in the Texas 79th legislative regular session
    • S.B. No. 712 (Adobe PDF)
      This senate bill sets goals for energy efficiency by allowing electric utilities to offer these types of market-transformation programs. One relevant program option is "the use of trees or other landscaping for energy efficiency."
    • H.B. No. 2129 (Adobe PDF)
      This house bill focuses on "energy-saving measures that reduce the emission of air contaminants." The relevant text is as follows: "…emission reduction credits may be received in the Houston-Galveston nonattainment area for energy efficiency and urban heat island programs in connection with the State Implementation Plan for the eight-hour ozone standard."
  • Click on the bill numbers above to read the full text, and you can also see the bill history at Texas Legislature Online.
Some tree planting initiatives by Texas organizations
  • Harris County Flood Control has started a tree planting program at several of their project sites. Click here to read their press release.
  • The Texas Department of Transportation Houston District has a Green Ribbon Program that provides landscaping along freeways in the Houston Area.
  • Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority is working with Trees for Houston on the Fort Bend Parkway Beautification Project to plant trees along the parkway. Click here for more information.
  • Trees for Houston is a nonprofit dedicated to planting trees along major streets and freeways.
  • Other nonprofit organizations support tree planting as one way to improve the quality of the region, such as the Quality of Life Coalition, Scenic Houston, Center for Houston's Future, and Greater Houston Partnership.
National efforts on trees and air quality
  • The National Tree Trust, USDA Forest Service, Center for Chesapeake Communities, and Davey Resource Group have partnered on a project entitled "Building the Case for Urban Tree Canopy Cover Inclusion in State Implementation Plans (SIPs)." Visit their website to find research, articles, presentations, and other relevant material on this subject.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Policy Guidance
Return to the Inclusion of Large-Scale Tree Planting in a State Implementation Plan.
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