Why We Need Urban Trees!
It’s easy to think of the Amazon when we think of trees and how we need them.
But we need urban trees – trees planted in the heart of our cities – just as much.
Amazingly, urban trees save lives!
Researchers studied 10 cities and found that trees growing in cities help clean the air of fine particulate air pollution — soot, smoke, dust, dirt — that can lodge in our lungs and cause health problems.
- Trees clear 71 tons of fine particulate matter from Atlanta’s air annually
- Trees clean enough pollution to save seven or eight lives every year in New York City
Trees really are green!
Researchers with the U.S. Forest Service and Davey Institute found that trees
- save lives
- reduce hospital visits, and
- reduce the number of days taken off work.
mainly by sucking pollutants out of the air.
“This research clearly illustrates that America’s urban forests are critical capital investments helping produce clear air and water; reduce energy costs; and, making cities more liveable,” Forest Service researcher Michael Rains said in a press release.
Scientists found that the more trees there are in an area, people are less likely to die there.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Spread the word about urban trees (buttons below) – thank you!
Really excellent extra reason to plant more trees.
Now I wonder if they have conducted any research about the effect of windowsill plants? Would these be more effective or less effective at removing pollution per unit of space than trees?
That’s a great point – windowsill plants are a huge help with indoor toxins! I didn’t find any comparative studies so I can’t say for sure, but I bet they do almost as well. Thanks for stopping by!