USC's urban forest project will focus on 3 1/2 square miles northeast of the university's Health Sciences Campus in Boyle Heights, which includes parts of El Sereno, Ramona Gardens and Lincoln Heights. USC researchers noted that the area suffers from poor air quality and little shade, and the median household income is about half of L.A. overall. L.A.'s Green New Deal's tree initiative calls for increasing the forest canopy in specifically low-income heat zones by 50% by 2028. "This partnership between the city and USC researchers is taking on global warming by improving sustainability where people live," USC President Carol L. Folt said. "It's a good example of how we can enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods as we face the challenges of climate change."