Global environmental conditions are changing at alarming rates, and many people are experiencing climate anxiety. A Yale study found that 64 percent of Americans are at least somewhat worried about global warming. This leaves many people wanting something tangible to help alleviate this feeling.

One way to fight this eco-anxiety and help relieve some of the weight of climate issues is as easy as planting a tree. Trees all across the world are working to fight climate change by enacting ecosystem services, or benefits provided through their interactions with the environment. While there are tons of ways trees can benefit us, focusing on improving environmental quality and public health are extremely important. Let’s look at some ways trees can help our health and environment.

Environmental Quality

Improve air quality

Cities have many sources of air pollution, but the main sources is transportation. The combustion of fossil fuels releases many pollutants, but recent studies have found that trees are good at picking up those toxins. Particulate matter (PM) are small particles released in combustion that have been found to be very poor for human health, but trees have been found to be good at both dispersing and absorbing PM.

Improve water quality

Trees are great at filtering and capturing stormwater runoff. Large roots create macropores which allow for larger amounts of water to filter into the soils. By slowing down the runoff, trees are able to filter out harmful chemicals and prevent them from reaching greater water sources. Additionally, trees provide great structure to the soils along waters, which prevent the erosion of those spaces either gradually or during extreme weather events.

Public Health

Many cities experience a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. When areas, mainly cities, have very few natural spaces and high amounts of impervious cover, this causes those areas to hold on to heat for longer periods of time. You have probably noticed it as you drive out of town! As you drive away from the city center, temperatures seem to drop by a couple degrees.

This increase in city temperatures can lead to a whole slate of issues. Air pollutants like ozone increase at higher temperatures, causing poor air quality. This summer, Texas saw an historic heat wave, and here in Austin, we experienced 45 days straight of temperatures over 100 degrees. Additionally, in a two week period this summer, 260 residents in Dallas County were treated at emergency rooms for heat related illness.

According to the EPA, one of the best ways to fight the urban heat island effect is through trees and other greenery. One way trees can actively cool the air is through transpiration. This is the process where trees take in water through their roots and once it is processed, release it as water vapor into the surrounding air. This tree “sweat” actively cools the air around the trees which can help to reduce temperatures.

Additionally, the basic provision of shade cannot be understated in heat waves. While trees may provide great shade for us to cool off that is not the only benefit of their shade. Tree shade protect buildings leading to reduced energy costs and consumption across the board. One study found that 17% shade on a building from trees can reduce power bills by $10/month, which when applied to a residential area can be significant.

 

 

Trees do not have to be found in massive quantities in old growth forests in order to provide services that benefit us everyday. We can see their strength and value here in our own city, making it even more important to spread the goal of increased tree planting and education. Follow along with us to learn more about what you can do in your community to increase the many services and benefits from the amazing resource we have all around us.