Tree-Canopy Mapping Takes Off in Laredo to Beat Urban Heat

In Laredo, Texas, one of the lesser-talked-about fronts of climate resilience is quietly taking shape. The Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC) has secured nearly $439 000 from the Environmental Justice Data Fund to jump-start a LiDAR-based mapping of tree canopy gaps across Laredo and Webb County.

Why this matters: Urban heat doesn’t just come from sunny days. It comes from missing trees, asphalt expanses, bare sidewalks, and communities that lack shade and green infrastructure. RGISC first documented these conditions in their 2024 urban-heat island study, using citizen-gathered temperature data in partnership with NOAA. They found that existing canopy maps were outdated, meaning policymakers and planners may have been flying blind when it came to vulnerable neighborhoods.

With the new funding, RGISC will partner with geospatial firm NV5 and academic partners from Harvard University and University of Vermont to produce a detailed dataset by late 2026. The goal: identify priority areas for planting, assess tree species age/health, and integrate community-driven engagement around equity in the canopy.
“Lack of shade and green spaces significantly affects public health and well-being,” says Martin Castro, RGISC’s watershed director. His point underscores what many planners already know: what looks like a simple tree gap map is really a map of vulnerability, elevated temperatures, poorer air quality, and less access to nature’s cooling effects.

What’s at stake: With climate change intensifying, cities like Laredo face higher temperatures, more extreme weather, and stress on infrastructure. Using LiDAR to pinpoint tree-planting zones and then acting on that data gives a city a real tool, not just a flashy plan. It shifts the conversation from “we need more trees” to “here’s where we need them, here’s when, here’s how much.”

What planners should watch:

• Ensure the dataset becomes actionable: linked to capital-budget cycles, code or zoning incentives for tree preservation, and street-design changes.
• Monitor for equity: Are historically under-served neighborhoods prioritized? Are lands with few trees also the ones facing other infrastructure deficits?
• Connect this work to larger systems: stormwater management, surface-temperatures, sidewalk design, and housing equity.

Bottom line: This is a smart example of data + equity-driven action coming to life. It shows that climate planning isn’t always about mega-infrastructure, sometimes it’s about trees, shade, and giving a city the tools to know where to invest.

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