Scholarship Recipient
Environmental Justice mapping tools help identify communities that may be affected more than others by pollution and other environmental problems. They combine information about the environment with information about the people who live there, to help governments and civic organizations make fairer decisions.
Sean’ s research examined five prominent environmental justice mapping tools; Tree Equity Score, EJScreen, CalEnviroScreen, ParkScore / ParkServe, and i-Tree Landscape. The research compared the information each tool provides, its accessibility and ease of use, and its potential applications and limitations. Sean’ s review found that these tools can help identify underserved communities and guide urban greening investments, but they are most effective when paired with current local data, practitioner knowledge, and community input.
Congratulations to incoming Stockbridge freshman, Declan Regan, who was awarded the MAA’ s $ 1500 Gordon & Frances King scholarship in support of his arboriculture career path. His outstanding academic achievements combined with glowing references from Keefe Tech instructors, and his obvious enthusiasm for tree care are inspirational! The MAA wishes Declan all the best as he moves forward toward success in our industry.
Other findings:
• No single tool provides a complete picture of environmental conditions or urban forest equity, so they should be used in tandem.
• Simple, visually oriented tools can make disparities easier to identify and communicate.
• More detailed tools can support planting prioritization and estimate tree benefits, but they may require greater technical knowledge.
• Future tools should remain open and user-friendly while incorporating current tree canopy and green infrastructure data, local knowledge, and community participation.
To learn more about MAA’ s student scholarship opportunities visit https:// massarbor. org / Scholarships.
Student Research Quick Takes
Overview of Sean Mullen’ s research
On April 15, UMass graduate student Sean Mullen presented his original research to an appreciative audience of MAA members.
Sean Mullen is a graduate student completing his Masters in Forest Resources and Arboriculture with Rick Harper at UMass. Sean serves as a Project Coordinator at ReGreen Springfield and he is involved in updating a UMass Extension field guide on common problems affecting urban planting. Sean spoke about his graduate work examining the practical application of online urban forestry and environmental justice mapping tools.
UMass students Stella Dee and Sean Mullen meet with Carrie Martin prior to their presentations at the April 15 MAA student forum meeting.
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