Survey finds room for more than 500 new trees in Houston neighborhood’s battle against urban heat

A community that has been identified as the hottest neighborhood in Houston could support more than 500 additional trees in public spaces, according to a recent street-by-street analysis conducted by Texas A&M Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy in Texas.

Last month’s survey of available public space for tree plantings is part of a comprehensive community initiative to mitigate the effects of heat, improve air quality and enhance nature in the Gulfton Super Neighborhood in southwest Houston.

The effort, known as Greener Gulfton, aims to increase the tree canopy across the neighborhood and reduce the impact of urban heat islands on the community. Urban heat islands are areas where temperatures are higher than surrounding rural areas due to the lack of vegetation and the concentration of concrete and asphalt.