Trees are a critical part of healthy communities. Making the case for more trees and tree care in your town or city may be as simple as sharing some statistics about the benefits.
Clean Water
- Water security is dependent on forests, estimating that forests provide 75 percent of the world’s accessible freshwater. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- Switzerland saves roughly $64 million per year by using freshwater from forested watersheds that requires no treatment. United Nation Economic Commission for Europe, 2004
Clean Air
- Trees remove pollution from the atmosphere, improving air quality and human health. U.S. Forest Service, 2013
- Roadside trees reduce nearby indoor air pollution by more than 50%. Lancaster University, United Kingdom, 2013
Stormwater Management
- Trees reduce stormwater runoff by intercepting rainfall, evapotranspiration, and filtering and storing water in soil and forest litter. Center for Watershed Protection, 2005
- A single mature deciduous tree can intercept 500-760 gallons of rainfall per year, and a mature evergreen tree can intercept more than 4,000 gallons per year. Penn State Extension, 2017
Lower Urban Temperatures
- Trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 4.0° C during the summer. Building and Environment, 2012
- Tree shade lowers surface temperatures in parking lots by approximately 20° C. Journal of Arboriculture, 1999
- CO2 Absorption to Reduce Effects of Climate Change
- During one year, a mature tree will absorb approximately 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange. European Environment Agency
Better Mental Health
- People experienced reduced psychological distress when they had access to quality green spaces. European Journal of Public Health, 2015
- Office workers with a view of trees report significantly less stress and more satisfaction. Chungbuk National University, South Korea, 2007
- Children living near natural green spaces have lower life stresses than those with little nearby nature. Environment and Behavior, 2003
Crime Reduction
- In Baltimore, a 10% increase in tree canopy corresponded to a 12% decrease in crime. University of Vermont and U.S. Forest Service, 2012
- Among minor crimes, there is less graffiti, vandalism and littering in outdoor spaces with trees as a part of the natural landscape than in comparable plant-less spaces. University of Washington
