When most people imagine a city environment, they will probably imagine structures made of glass, concrete, asphalt, steel, and stone. From highways to skyscrapers, when we think of cities, we think of modern, manmade constructions. And for decades, this has more or less been an accurate representation of city spaces. But current thinking regarding environmental concerns and human well-being has lead city planners and urban developers to take a serious look at the role trees and green spaces can play in improving the quality of life in urban areas. Trees are far more than lovely and ornamental (although they can be beautiful). They can make a real, positive impact on the health and happiness of city dwellers.
Improved Air Quality
Trees take in carbon dioxide, and emit oxygen. They are, quite literally, an antidote to many of the greenhouse gases created by gasoline-powered vehicles. Although we generally consider this on a more global scale, it’s also true in a more local sense: the more trees there are in an area, the cleaner the air becomes. Increased numbers of trees in an area are associated with lower rates of asthma and better air quality.
Carbon Capture
As stated above, trees do a phenomenal job of pulling carbon out of the air, and trapping it in solid form in their trunks and branches. The more trees we have on our planet, the less carbon there is in our atmosphere. And although that is more important on a global scale than a local one, as urban areas grow to encompass more of the world, it becomes ever more important that trees are not removed or omitted from urban landscapes.
Heat Reduction
One of the most noticeable impacts of trees in urban areas is related to their ability to keep an area cooler. First, trees do not absorb heat in the way that concrete and asphalt do, which means that after a hot day, an area with a lot of trees will cool after the sun goes down, while a “concrete jungle” will slowly release the heat it collected during the day throughout the night, keeping urban temperatures higher 24 hours per day.
Secondly, the green, leafy canopies of urban trees provide shade, reducing the intensity of the sun’s rays, and therefore reducing the need for as much air conditioning as there would be without them. This results in not only cooler homes, but lower energy bills.
Noise Reduction
Trees absorb and dampen sounds, rather than reflecting them the way that urban structures typically do. This leads to quieter streets and neighborhoods in areas with many trees planted.
Reduced Flood Danger
Concrete and asphalt don’t typically absorb much water. When rain falls on city streets and sidewalks, it runs off, into gutters and storm drains, and then into sewers. But when those storm drains and sewers become blocked or overly full, the water has nowhere to go but to back up onto streets and into basements. Tree roots and the soil that surrounds them absorb water, and can help to slow down the rate of runoff into drains and sewers, helping to prevent or slow down urban flooding events.
Trees Are Good for Mental Health
Trees are peaceful and calming. Being in nature, surrounded by greenery, has been proven to have a positive impact on stress levels, blood pressure, mental health and a sense of well-being. Thriving urban green spaces also encourage people to get out and engage in physical activity, further improving their health and well-being.
Urban trees can help improve the health and well-being of city dwellers in many ways. Maintaining these trees in optimal health is the job of professional urban arborists who specialize in caring for trees in city spaces. If you have trees that need care and maintenance, in the city, suburbs, or countryside, contact a professional, local tree service to look after the health of your trees.
