BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — When the City of Boston published its Urban Forest Plan in 2022, it came with an alarming finding,

Some of the city’s neighborhoods were losing tree cover, and most of that loss was coming from private property.

Data gathered from 2014-2019 showed that most of the losses were in the southern and western parts of the city in historical Environmental Justice neighborhoods (neighborhoods that are facing disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards and negative health impacts).

While the specific reasons behind the loss of Boston's tree canopy were not clear, the city decided that action needed to be taken to not just restore the tree canopy, but to grow it.

Enter the Boston Tree Alliance (BTA).

City officials asked Massachusetts Audubon to lead BTA, a program that among other responsibilities provided grants that would get trees planted on private land at no cost to the resident.

"And so, the city said we need to address this loss and this big change happening," Program Manager Amara Chittenden said.

She explained that one of her group's biggest challenges was coordinating the planting of trees on private land rather than public, which was normally where the state focused its tree-growing efforts.

The money runs from the top-down.

Boston provides the BTA and Mass. Audubon grant money to give out to other, smaller organizations.

Those organizations reach out to people who live in their neighborhoods, asking if they would like trees planted in their yards, and welcome requests for trees.

According to the city, the BTA is funded with $1 million in federal ARPA funding.

The BTA also works directly with residents who are interested in sprucing up their property.

The alliance says trees not only provide shade during the summer and sweltering heat waves like the one we've been in this week – they improve air and water quality, reduce energy consumption, and help enhance mental and physical well-being.

WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.