This study of reforestation in Tucson’s under-treed neighborhoods produced two important findings: first, which arid-tolerant tree species are most likely to survive; and survivability of trees planted in low income areas.
Foley, T., Wolf, A.M., Henriquez, P. Rogstad, A. 2018. A low income urban forestry program in Tucson,
Arizona, USA. Cities and the Environment. 2019
Putting aside the effects of an unusually deep freeze in 2011 which killed significant populations of white and sweet acacia, survivability of the species studied matched the range indicated in the literature for both annual and cumulative mortality through year five. The authors also found that maintenance of newly-planted trees could be enhanced through stewardship education and financial support for lower-income families.