Urban green equity on the ground: Practice-based models of urban green equity in three multicultural cities

Urban green equity, broadly defined as equitable access to and governance of urban forests, mediates urban residents’ ability to derive ecosystem services from urban forests. This article explores conceptions of, barriers to, and strategies for urban green equity as understood by urban forestry and related green practitioners in three multicultural cities in the US. Practitioners identified two principle dimensions of urban green equity: (1) distributional equity, and (2) recognitional equity. The key barrier to distributional equity was the perception of urban forests as amenities, while the key barrier to recognitional equity was multiple identities and urban forest priorities, reflecting existing theories of political ecology and social justice. The research identified and systematized additional sub-barriers to urban green equity and strategies used to overcome barriers in practice. While similar themes of urban green equity emerged across the study cities, key areas of disagreement provide important insights. Interestingly, practitioners identified and discussed distributional equity twice as frequently as recognitional equity, indicating a potential gap in understanding and use of the concept. As cities become increasingly aware of ecosystem services and urban green equity, this research can inform urban forestry and sustainability strategies.