How Urban Trees Can Save Lives: Planting Healthy Air report quantifies health benefits of trees 

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American Forests

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American Forests Gives Ten Reasons ‘Why We Plant Trees’

1. Trees Save Energy and Money. According to the U.S. Forest Service, “Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating.”
2. Trees Save Tax Dollars. Trees in a city slow storm water runoff and reduce the need for storm sewers. Tree shade also helps cool municipal buildings, lowering electricity bills.
3. Trees Cool Our Cities. Urban “heat islands” are caused by declining tree canopy in our communities.
4. Trees Clean Our Water and Air. From low-level ozone in our cities to pesticide and fertilizer runoff from our farms, trees absorb harmful pollutants.
5. Trees Help Community Life. Tree planting and community-based forestry can add significantly to a local community’s sustainable economy while restoring the environment.
6. Trees Protect Soil. By holding soil in place with their root systems, by deflecting pounding rain with their canopies and by adding nutrients each fall with their leaves, trees are crucial to keeping and improving our soil.
7. Trees Provide Habitat for Species of Many Kinds, Including Endangered Species.
8. Trees Can Pay Your “Carbon Debt.” Planting just 30 trees with American Forests will absorb the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is generated in the production of energy consumed by the average American lifestyle annually — and put oxygen back into our atmosphere.
9. Trees Provide Clean Water and Natural Flood Control. Forests act as natural reservoirs and they protect watersheds, providing clean water for cities, bays and rivers.
10. Trees are a Beautiful Part of Our Lives. Trees enrich our lives by simply being there, from the majestic sequoias to the littlest new bud.