After an initial round this spring, Fairfax County is bringing back its initiative that offers free trees for residents to plant on their properties.
Partnering again with the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation, the county’s Urban and Community Forestry Division will limit giveaways for the first two weeks, starting today (Monday), to people living in neighborhoods that rank “high” or “very high” on the federal Social Vulnerability Index.
Rejected by the current Trump administration, the Social Vulnerability Index was originally established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 2011 to identify communities that might be in particular need of assistance before, during or after disasters.
Factors considered in the ranking include poverty, employment and education levels; race, age, disability and other demographic factors; and access to housing and transportation.
As of 2022, parts of Fairfax County considered high or very high on the vulnerability index include the Richmond Highway corridor, Bailey’s Crossroads and Annandale.
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) has previously noted that “economically disadvantaged communities” often have limited tree cover.
A 2021 study of urban municipalities across the U.S. found that low-income blocks, on average, have 15.2% less tree cover and, as a result, are 1.5 degrees hotter than high-income blocks. Researchers pointed to reduced resources and public investment for planting and maintaining trees, discriminatory historical planning practices, and differences in agency for homeowners compared to renters as possible explanations for the disparity.
“When planted properly, these trees will help increase shade, reduce energy use and carbon emissions, improve water quality, reduce urban heat island effects and help make communities cleaner and greener,” DPWES said of the trees being offered to residents by the Arbor Day Foundation.
When the program was first offered in March, the available 1-gallon trees were reserved within mere hours of applications opening.
This time, the county says sign-ups will expand to all residents after the first two weeks of the program if any trees are still available. Each resident can receive up to two trees for planting.
More on the program from a press release:
Tree recipients will be given access to an online tool that can help residents identify the best location to plant their tree, see estimates on how each tree could affect their home’s energy costs and select the trees they would like to receive. Trees will be shipped directly to residents along with tree shelters and stakes.
Residents outside the priority areas may also submit a request during the initial two-week period but will be notified that tree distribution is initially reserved for residents in communities with high or very high social vulnerability. If trees remain available after the two-week priority period, the program will open to residents throughout Fairfax County, and remaining trees will be distributed while supplies last.
Residents can choose from a selection of carefully chosen, non-invasive, regionally native and ecologically appropriate tree species suitable for the local environment. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis within each phase of the program.
The county also launched a program last week to distribute free trees to community organizations. The application deadline for that program is Oct. 30.
