08/25/2026
Every community planning decision has long-term impacts, even down to the trees.
Infrastructure investments, zoning, and where development does — and doesn't — happen all determine who ends up with shade, clean air, and green space, and who doesn't.
That's the lens CPEX brings to the SU GREEN LAB program, a $9.5 million USDA Forest Service investment in expanding tree canopy across the Scotlandville community and Southern University's campus.
Tree canopy isn't just about appearances. It's critical infrastructure that makes communities more liveable. Heat mitigation, air quality, stormwater retention, and public health outcomes are all tied to tree canopy cover. And canopy cover is tied to decisions planners, developers, and elected officials make every day.
Closing that gap takes more than planting trees. It takes thoughtful planning — canopy analysis to know where the need is greatest, community input to know what residents actually value, and demonstration sites that show what's possible.
Last month, our team talked with Scotlandville residents about canopy care and which benefits they want prioritized as we plan community plantings later this year. Just one step in a longer process to build a greener, more resilient Scotlandville.
Where does tree canopy stand in your community's priorities? And what would it take to move it from a priority to plan, and from plan to action?
