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Trees are essential elements of
livable communities and a healthy environment. They
are not only beautiful, they carry out many beneficial
environmental functions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide,
the major greenhouse gas (up to 50 pounds per tree each
year), and release oxygen. They shelter and provide
nesting habitats for wildlife, retain moisture in soils,
hold topsoil in place, and provide shade and cooling.
Trees also provide fruits, nuts, oils, and syrups; pulp
for paper, cloth, and rope; and wood for innumerable
products and heat. Trees provide both direct and
indirect economic benefits. Air-conditioning costs are
less in a tree-shaded home, and heating costs are
reduced when a home has properly selected and placed
windbreaks. Beyond energy savings, landscaping with
mature trees increases the value of property.
Indirect economic benefits extend beyond the individual
to the community or region. Customers pay lower
electricity bills when power companies use less water in
their cooling towers and fewer measures to control air
pollution. Communities also save money if fewer
facilities must be built to control storm water.
Trees make the world more beautiful. They add color,
structure, height, and grace to our neighborhoods,
parkways, and streetscapes. Trees also neutralize the
harshness and stress of urban life. They enrich our
lives. Our forests, woodlands, parks, and preserves help
us feel more relaxed and serene. A day or even an hour
in the woods can help us feel rejuvenated. Trees are
magnets for wildlife, which also add beauty, value, and
interest to our world.
City and suburban trees often serve several
architectural functions. They provide privacy, frame
views, and screen out objectionable sights. They reduce
glare and reflection, direct pedestrian traffic, and
provide background for and soften, complement, or
enhance architecture or topography.
--From
The Morton Arboretum "Go
Green"
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