Trees provide benefits that improve the quality of city life, making urban environments more liveable and sustainable for everyone.
But most importantly (and often overlooked) is that trees can actually produce positive returns for the economy, especially when they are well taken care of.
The aesthetic and social benefits of urban trees are noteworthy. Well-maintained green spaces with trees enhance the quality of life for urban residents and promote community well-being. Trees also create habitats for wildlife, contributing to urban biodiversity and ecological balance.
Trees in the City: More Than Just Pretty Scenery
We enjoy seeing the trees along our streets, but urban trees are doing a lot more than just looking nice. Trees make cities better places to live, keeping things cooler, cleaner, and healthier for everyone. Plus, when cities take care of their trees, it can even help out the local economy.
Why We Love Trees in Our Neighborhoods
When parks and streets are lined with healthy trees, it just feels better to be outside. These green spaces make a city more inviting and give people places to relax, hang out, and escape the concrete jungle for a bit. On top of that, trees give birds and other animals a place to live, which keeps our cities lively and full of nature.
Trees: Nature’s All-in-One Upgrade
- Looking Good: Trees add splashes of green and color where things might otherwise be gray and dull. They also help break up busy areas, making streets and public spaces feel a bit calmer and nicer to be in.
- Cleaner Air: With all the cars and factories, many cities struggle with air pollution. Trees step in as natural air filters, soaking up carbon dioxide and all sorts of nasty stuff, making the air safer to breathe.
- Keeping It Cool: All those buildings, roads, and parking lots can turn cities into ovens, raising temperatures by several degrees. Shade from trees and the moisture they release help to cool everything down. If there are enough trees, families can even see their energy bills drop by 15% to 35%.
- Stormwater management: Trees are the natural solution for absorbing and filtering stormwater, and preventing erosion.
Not only do trees help with pollution, but they’re also linked to better mental and physical human health. They offer protection against heat and pollution. Plus, trees can block out a surprising amount of city noise—each big tree can dial down noise by about 6 decibels, and a whole grove of trees is even better. Just being around trees can actually help people feel more positive and lower their stress levels.
The Money Side of Things
- Property Value: Neighborhoods with lots of trees tend to be safer and more appealing—which usually means property values go up, anywhere from 5% to 20% on average.
- Big Savings: According to one study, every dollar spent on planting trees brings back more than seven dollars in savings over time. In other words, investing in trees really pays off in the future.
Trees vs. Stormwater: Natural Systems
Most cities are full of hard surfaces that just don’t soak up water, which means rains can increase runoff into our waterways. But each mature tree can actually take in up to 119 gallons of water through its roots. Trees are champions at keeping polluted stormwater out of rivers and lakes, since their roots filter out nasty stuff. They also cut down on how much water is rushing into city drains, which prevents overload of those systems. And as a bonus, trees keep things cooler and even help save water by shading those hot, dry surfaces.
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I agree with all of this. However, I’m not sure that our city does. When entering the saltwater park in Richmond Beach, turn around and look at the three new houses looking out over the water. Beautiful mature trees were mass occurred in order to build these homes. Now, There are zero trees on the lots. This is a grand failure of our city policies regarding trees.
ReplyDeleteThere is even more to the economic value of trees. The stormwater managemetn they provide reduces/eliminates the costs of installing and maintaining man made stormwater controls. The shade also reduces the sun/heat damage to road surfaces reducing the need to re-pave frequently. These are expenses we pay for as tax payers. I would rather buy trees. I would much rather buy trees than a stormwater drain. How about you? The shade and windbreaks they provide help reduce the costs of both summer cooling and winter heating for evey home. And finally, trees are the primary source of the oxygen we breathe. As more people move to the area, the more oxygen we will need. I would prefer to breathe clean air, wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteExcellent information and good graphics. As one lower income apartment resident I met said, "Everyone deserves to look out their window and see a tree. "
ReplyDeleteOur trees are in our City Logo! People live here because of trees!
ReplyDeleteThey protect salmon habitat, birds and even Orca Whales!
Protect our existing trees when development occurs and plant thousands more!
Trees are in our City logo! They are a big reason that people move here!
ReplyDeleteThey bring vital shade to fight Heat Island Effect and protect salmon, bird and even Orca Whale habitat!
Protect our existing trees when trees and plant thousands of more with the new housing.
Shoreline Preservation Society