Five Benefits of Community Trees

For years, industrialization and deforestation have made a large impact on the number of trees in our towns and cities, and the results continue to worsen. More and more research is presented confirming the value and benefits that urban trees offer our communities, and it’s time for us to listen! Check out these five benefits of urban trees to help spark the conversation in your community today!

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Trees filter polluted air, provide shade and give an attractive, calming setting for recreation. Trees have been proven to have a positive impact on incidences of skin cancer, asthma, hypertension and stress-related illness.

 AIR QUALITY

Planting trees remains one of the most cost-effective ways to help reduce harmful gases in the atmosphere. In fact, a single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 pounds per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings.

 CLIMATE CONTROL

Cities are, on average, two to five degrees hotter during the day than rural areas. This increased heat in cities can cause a number of problems, including general discomfort, respiratory impairment, stroke and even death.

Having trees is the perfect way to stay cool during the hot summer months. Trees can help offset the heat through shade and evapotranspiration, thus reducing the costs of air conditioning and other cooling methods.

VISUAL APPEAL

Few things can compare to the visual appeal of green spaces in metropolitan and downtown areas. Trees add a sense of community and civic responsibility to neighborhoods and can even increase property values by up to 15 percent. Tree-lined streets add to a community’s natural beauty and can encourage foot traffic around local businesses.

 COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT

Researchers have discovered that trees and green spaces can help reduce crime. In a 2001 study, researchers found that “the greener a building’s surroundings were, the fewer crimes reported.” Trees are said to have a therapeutic effect, decreasing mental fatigue and its associated symptoms, such as irritability and decreased impulse control, both considered to be precursors to crime. Green spaces also encourage people to spend more time socially outdoors, which, in turn, discourages crime.

If you want to learn more about how trees can benefit your community, check out our page on tree information.