The Swampscott Public Library is partnering with Neighborhood Forest to give children in the community the opportunity to plant a free tree at home during Earth Week.

Neighborhood Forest works to inspire children to plant trees, care for nature and create greener, healthier neighborhoods. Since 2020, the organization has supported more than 280,000 tree plantings nationwide, reaching approximately one in every 100 children in the country.

Swampscott and towns across the country are experiencing a decline in tree canopy coverage. . Urban areas nationwide are losing approximately 175,000 acres of tree canopy each year, according to a recent study from Salem State University.

The study, which has a 4% margin of error, found that Swampscott has “both improved and lost foliage based on census blocks.” The greatest tree loss occurred in the town’s northeast coastal area and the southwestern region bordering Lynn. Between 2016 and 2023, Swampscott lost an estimated 56 acres of tree canopy, according to the study.

Swampscott has been working to reverse the decline in tree canopy coverage and expand its climate gains. Last summer, 52 new trees were planted along walking routes, and more than 400 trees have been distributed to residents for backyard planting over the past four years.

In its annual impact report, Neighborhood Forest noted disparities in tree canopy coverage nationwide.

“In the United States, tree canopy coverage is not distributed equally,” Neighborhood Forest wrote in its annual impact report. “Neighborhoods with fewer trees experience higher temperatures, poorer air quality and fewer opportunities for children to connect with nature.”

To register a child to receive a free tree this Earth Day, visit https://tinyurl.com/Neighborhood-Forest-Register.

Community members can also fund a tree for $5. Those who would like to purchase a tree but do not have a yard can still participate by adopting one. In partnership with the town and the Swampscott Tree Committee, the library will plant these trees on a local tree farm.

“We will monitor the growth of your tree and post yearly updates on the tree’s growth,” the library posted.

Sign-ups are open through March 15, and trees will arrive during the week of Earth Day on April 22. Trees must be picked up in person.