Benefits of urban trees
Trees provide considerable benefits to our cities and the wider environment.
Here are just a few:
- A large beech tree can provide enough oxygen for the daily requirements of ten people.
- Trees have a positive impact on the incidence of asthma, skin cancer and stress-related illness by filtering out polluted air, reducing smog formation, shading out solar radiation and by providing an attractive, calming setting for recreation.
- Tree planting strengthens communities by providing people with an opportunity to work together for the benefit of the local environment.
- Trees can save up to 10% of energy consumption through their moderation of the local climate.
- 1 hectare of woodland grown to maturity and looked after forever would absorb the carbon emissions of 100 average family cars driven for one year (Climate Care/Trees for Cities estimate).
- Property in tree lined streets is worth 18% more than in similar streets without trees, according to a survey in Chicago.
- Trees help to lock up the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Read more.
- Trees play a vital role in the urban ecosystem, by helping to support a great variety of wildlife.
- Trees reduce noise in cities by acting as a sound barrier.
- Trees and green spaces significantly reduce the stress of urban living.