WHY CITIES LOVE THEIR TREES

Emilia Juchno

Probably the first reason that comes to mind is the aesthetic value of plants and trees. However, there is more to it. There are significant environmental, social and even economic benefits that arise from investing in green spaces in cities.

As we read on the website of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the importance of trees in cities begins with the fact that, for the first time in human history, over 50 per cent of the population now lives in cities and towns, and it will continue to increase over the next decades. Unfortunately, the rapidly growing urban spaces are often built or expanded without proper planning, resulting in congestion of people and buildings, as well as, a lack of designated green areas. But what do trees bring into our cities other than their looks?

The FAO focuses on the importance of creating unique green spaces, small ‘oases’ for the local wildlife - from plants and trees to animals that inhabit and rely on them for food - including humans, who utilise the wood and fruits from trees. Belts and patches of greenery, as well as multiple smaller parks throughout the city, also protect it against flooding, because they effectively absorb water. Especially in cities embedded in concrete greenery provides an escape route for water during heavy rains.

We all know about trees being the ‘lungs’ of our environment, and in cities, where the concentration of urban pollutants and particles is the highest, this quality is especially important. Not only do trees and other plants produce oxygen by utilising carbon dioxide from the air, but they also have the ability to collect on their leaves dust and other contaminating particles which are then washed away with rain.

Where trees are planted, for example along an asphalt pavement, the temperature of the air there can be reduced by up to 8 degrees Celsius. Trees can, therefore, reduce the impact of urban heatwaves and on a larger scale, this can even contribute to mitigating climate change consequences.

Interestingly, according to the FAO, planning urban landscapes with trees can increase the value of the property by up to 20 per cent, as well as attract tourism. Parks and garden squares in cities provide space for recreation and physical activity, ultimately contributing to both our physical and mental health.

When we look at urban-planning policies and patterns across the world, European cities take on a visibly different approach to their green spaces than American ones. In Europe, especially in the famously green cities of Moscow, Vilnius, or Stockholm, trees are incorporated into the urban landscape regularly, in the form of both city parks and garden squares or wildly growing trees and plants that have not been removed (remnants). Whereas in the US, the focus is on having large parks scattered through the city (think the classic example of New York’s Central Park). Considering the benefits of having even a couple of trees growing by an asphalt road (smaller belts and patches of greenery rather than a city park), the European model seems to be the more beneficial and, therefore, a desirable one.

With their ability to filter the air and protect against heat or flooding, trees make cities both healthier and safer places to live - that is, both for humans as well as insects and small animals which are crucial to maintaining the city’s biodiversity. They also contribute to creating a diverse urban landscape, including areas of greenery scattered around the city that serve multiple purposes- they provide shade, habitat for local animals, and a perfect place to wind down after having to be a part of the energetic, at times chaotic, city life.