Trees and Trash: Examining the Link Between Urban Forest Engagement and Blight in Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Abstract

Research conducted in various contexts suggests that urban greenspace, primarily trees, helps to reduce crime rates and other negative aspects of place. This study contributes to that literature by examining residents’ reporting of activities they do to create, maintain, and protect the urban forest in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), and the association of this involvement with blight measures. Using binary logistic regression, we found that urban forest engagement did not mediate egregious blight conditions but did reduce the presence of litter. Rather, residence in predominantly African American communities was the most consistent predictor of more substantial indicators of blight. Except for litter, these are overwhelming conditions, often involving absentee property owners. Redress requires municipal-level, bureaucratic interventions, which can be complex. Urban forest engagement appears relatively ineffectual in combating the worst kinds of blight but may aid in reducing more pedestrian forms.