Beyond native plants: Aligning greening programs with disadvantaged communities’ landscape needs for more equitable green infrastructure planning

Abstract

Cities worldwide are turning to greening programs to adapt to climate change and increase urban resilience. These programs are particularly needed in disadvantaged neighborhoods, typically less vegetated and more vulnerable to severe heat and flooding. Drawing from environmental justice scholarship, we argue that it is necessary to recognize minority viewpoints and perspectives in green infrastructure planning and align greening programs accordingly to effectively reach disadvantaged communities. This study fills this gap by examining the alignment of greening programs with the viewpoints and perspectives of disadvantaged communities in Tucson, Arizona, a city leader in greening policies, albeit with inequities in the adoption of such policies and in greenspace distribution. We engaged low-income, predominantly Hispanic communities to identify residential plant preferences and understand the reasons for plant selection. Findings reveal a misalignment between the main drivers of greening programs and those of disadvantaged communities. To advance justice in green infrastructure planning in desert cities, we call for adopting a multifunctional approach to greening that recognizes the benefits and values sought by disadvantaged communities, acknowledges water as the key equity resource, and supports local leaders, engagement efforts, and partnerships.