A Summary Of The Virtues Of Trees And Woody Plants In The Urban Environment

A SUMMARY OF THE VIRTUES OF TREES AND WOODY PLANTS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Trees are beautiful, handsome and attractive, please our senses, and enhance our neighbourhoods.
Trees provide ecosystem services to our communities.
Trees produce flowers, fruits, and nuts – they are food sources to us and wildlife (including bees and birds).
Trees provide wildlife habitat.
Trees contribute directly to the health and well-being of adults, and children (See “A Healthy Dose of Green”, Trees Ontario Feb 2012).
Trees provide shade, cool our cities.
Trees produce oxygen, absorb CO2 (sequester carbon) and fight Climate Change.
Trees absorb storm water.
Trees protect soil from erosion and compaction.
Trees reduce heating costs in winter (especially if evergreens are planted to the north west of buildings).
Trees reduce air conditioning costs in summer (especially if deciduous trees are planted to the south of buildings).
Trees make communities feel better, reducing crime and violence.
Trees increase property values. [Property adjacent to parks and treed roads have a higher tax base].
Trees attract new residents. (Treeless wastelands don’t).
New industries and businesses prefer treed places to work.
Treed cities and highways attract more tourists.
Trees, when they are old and dying, become habitat for many new species, or valuable fuel.

Trees have a spiritual value for most people.