Large urban trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates.
Trees can provide food, such as fruits, nuts and leaves. Spending time near trees
improves physical and mental health by increasing energy level and speed of recovery,
while decreasing blood pressure and stress. Trees properly placed around buildings
can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save energy used for heating by 20–50%.
Trees provide habitat, food and protection to plants and animals, increasing urban
biodiversity...planting trees today is essential for future generations!
16 October 2016, Quito – Urban forests can make cities healthier, safer, and wealthier,
but their potential is not being fully realized, according to a new FAO publication
launched today on the sidelines of Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador.
Increasing urbanization will see 70 percent of the world’s population living in cities
and towns by 2050, exacerbating existing problems such as urban poverty, greenhouse gas
emissions and pollution, and their potential impacts on public health.