Trees Make People Healthier. Urban forests help reduce mental and physical stress. People exerience lower heart rates and blood pressure when they have access to wooded or landscape areas. Recuperation rates are faster after certain type surgeries. Patients use less medicine when able to view or experience greenspaces. Moderate physical activity such as planting and caring for a tree can help people with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Money Does Grow on Trees. Landscaped homes generally sell faster and for more money than comparable "un-landscaped" homes. Increased property values make money for homeowners, builders, and local governments. Productivity is higher when workers can see and access landscaped areas.

Trees are Cool. Urban trees conserve energy useage and costs through increased shading and windbreaks. Reduced energy costs also conserves fossil fuels used to produce energy. Tree shade reduces ground temperatures and improves outdoor enjoyment and recreational opportunities.

Trees Clear the Air. Healthy urban trees "scrub" the air we breath by removing particulates and other harmful elements. Trees also cool urban areas, thereby reducing pollution worsened by urban "heat islands".

Trees Are a Bridge over Troubled Waters. Trees help control the amount of surface water runoff during intense rains. They also reduce soil erosion and sediment build-up in our streams. This erosion control benefit protects our drinking water and water quality for aquatic habitat.

Trees Enrich the Human Experience. Accessible and well maintained urban green spaces foster positive interaction among people. A good greenscape program that involves citizens will lower people's fear level, help reduce aggressive behavior, stimulate volunteerism, and build good citizenship.

Other Websites:

• Colorado Trees. A very nice compilation of research based statements and facts about the benefits of urban trees.
• Treelink: America's Urban Forestry Portal. National resource for urban and community forestry. Learn about planting and caring for trees in cities and towns. Includes links list, research, news, forums, and educational materials.
• Human-Environment Research Laboratory. A multidisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to studying the relationships between people and the environments they inhabit.
• Urban Forestry South. USDA Forest Service's comprehensive on-line resource for urban forestry Information in the southern region, including tree ordinances, manual and other publications, events announcements, technical assistance.
• Center for Urban Forest Research. Since 1992 we have provided our customers with reliable scientific evidence that the benefits of urban forests add real value to communities. Our research confirms that trees in our community forests are assets that pay us back.
• Center for Urban Horticulture. Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. Featuring research on peoples' perceptions and behaviors regarding nature in cities.
• Other Web Sites