The Benefits of Urban Trees
Urban and Community Forestry: Improving Our Quality of Life

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• Introduction
• Trees reduce air pollution
• Trees fight the atmospheric greenhouse effect
• Trees conserve water and reduce soil erosion
• Trees save energy
• Trees modify local climate
• Trees increase economic stability
• Trees reduce noise pollution and create wildlife and plant diversity
• Helping trees and your urban forest

Urban and community forestry can make a difference in our lives. Each one of us can make a personal contribution. As we develop and apply technologies for a better way of life, often times side effects adversely affect our natural environment. For example, in our urban areas summer temperatures and noise levels are higher than in the surrounding countryside. Air pollution problems are more concentrated, and the landscape is significantly altered, reducing personal health benefits available to us by having access to wooded areas and green open spaces. Trees help solve these problems. Now, 75 percent of us live in cities and towns and we can act individually to improve our natural environment through the planting and care of trees on our own streets, and by supporting community-wide forestry programs. Through technology we are learning more about trees and how they benefit mankind, and how we can do a better job of planting and caring for these trees that make up our urban forests.

Forestry Report R8-FR 17/USDA Forest Service The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service wants to know if this service is helpful
for you or your company, please send comments and/or suggestions to Maryland DNR.

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