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140 | CITY OF PLEASANTON URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN <br />CANOPY COVER AND EQUITY <br />and emissions contribute to <br />compromised human health and <br />comfort, leading to increased <br />incidences of heat-related illness <br />and deaths (EPA 2020). <br />Urban trees and vegetation offer <br />a significant countermeasure to <br />the UHI effect. By providing shade <br />and facilitating evapotranspiration, <br />trees can lower surface <br />temperatures by 20°F to 45°F <br />(11°C to 25°C) compared to areas <br />without tree cover (Loughner et al. <br />2012). Additionally, appropriately <br />placed trees can lower building <br />temperatures and reduce energy <br />demand by up to 35% (EPA 2021). <br />The effectiveness of these cooling <br />benefits depends on the extent and distribution of canopy <br />cover across different urban areas. <br />Analysis of the City’s census tracts reveals a relationship <br />between canopy cover and the severity of heat islands. <br />Heat severity is quantified on a scale from 1 to 5, where <br />1 represents mild heat areas, and 5 signifies severe heat <br />areas (Trust for Public Lands 2023). Figure 3-1 visualizes the <br />overlap of heat islands and canopy cover across the City. <br />The map highlights that while all tracts experience UHI <br />effects, those with lower canopy cover tend to have <br />increased heat island severity. This underscores the <br />importance of enhancing urban tree canopy to mitigate <br />heat island impacts. By increasing canopy cover, cities can <br />effectively reduce temperatures, improve air quality, and <br />promote better overall public health. <br /> <br />Figure 3-1 . Urban Heat Island and Canopy Cover