American Forests Awards First Tree Planting for Climate Resilience and Human Health Grant to Rhode Island Health Equity Zone
Targeted News Service (Press Releases)
WASHINGTON,
Feb. 9, 2021:
Rhode Island has been awarded a
$100,000 Tree Planting for
Climate Resilience and
The neighboring cities of
Central Falls are among 10 lower-income areas in
Rhode Island experiencing poor health outcomes, which prompted the state in 2015 to designate them as Health Equity Zones (HEZ). This designation helps the state prioritize investment in these communities to improve people's health. Many of the HEZ communities also lack trees, which contribute to healthier communities. Trees cool neighborhoods, reducing heat-related deaths, and they filter the air, which decreases the risk of respiratory illnesses.