Urbanites rush by them without noticing, and without appreciating all the work they do: Trees reduce temperatures, mitigate flooding, and provide habitat for animals.
“In the same way that we treat education, security, transportation, it has to be elevated to that level.”.
For one, trees significantly cool the concrete jungle by providing shade and releasing water vapor to “sweat.”
Spending time in parks also boosts mental health, while urban farms produce nutritious food and create jobs.
At the same time, vegetation absorbs pollutants, improving air quality for everyone.
Urban forestry isn’t just about buying a bunch of trees and hiring people to put them in the ground.
Cities, for example, have to identify not just the tree species that communities prefer, but ones that will actually survive ever-climbing temperatures. »