Trees as a Solution THE NUMEROUS BENEFITS OF A STRONG URBAN TREE CANOPY
Benefit
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Urban Trees Clean the Air and Improve Health New York City saw a significant decrease of asthma in young children (-29%) after increasing its tree canopy through the planting of only 300 trees per square kilometer (Lovasi et al. 2008). Studies have also shown that individuals with views or access to greenspace tend to be healthier; employees experience 23% less sick time and greater job satisfaction, and hospital patients recover faster with fewer drugs (Ulrich 1984). Trees have also been shown to have a calming and healing effect on ADHD adults and teens (Burden 2008).
MAYME MOORE PARK
Trees reduce or can completely remove many components of street-level air pollution, including carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (a component of smog) and small particulate matter (i.e., dust, ash, dirt, pollen and smoke). This is an important service since air pollution creates significant public health issues. Ozone and particulates can especially aggravate existing respiratory conditions (like asthma) and create longterm chronic health problems (American Lung Association 2015). In fact, a Harvard University study showed that long-term exposure to air pollution (PM2.5 specifically) increases the risk of death in those with COVID-19 (Xiao 2020).
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COLUMBUS URBAN FORESTRY MASTER PLAN
Yet another study showing the power of trees to heal and save human lives was revealed by a 2020 Philadelphia study published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health. The researchers analysis and conclusions showed that a 30% tree canopy coverage (up from 20% currently) would result in a 3% reduction of the annual resident mortality rates. A study from 2004 to 2015 in New York City examined the effects of urban forest on infant health. They found that an approximately 20% increase in urban forest cover decreased prematurity by 2.1% and low birth weight among mothers by .24% percentage points respectively, in comparison to mothers outside of the study zone. This finding is equivalent to getting a mother who smokes two cigarettes a day during her pregnancy to quit (Jones 2019).
