Milwaukee Urban Forestry Fund

PEOPLE

Trees benefit people in many ways.  They improve health and well being.

• Trees reduce sickness
• Trees aid healing and shorten recuperation time
• Trees reduce mental fatigue and stress

Research has shown trees and exposure to nature helps children learn.

• Trees increase children’s interest and attentiveness
• Trees alleviate stress and aid in social interactions
• Trees reduce violent/disruptive behavior
• Trees calm children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Trees have a lasting positive impact on life-long learning

Trees foster safer and more social neighborhoods.

Trees beautify and increase the scenic quality of our community.

Trees reduce noise pollution.

PLANET

Trees play a vital role for the planet.  They serve to bridge the gap between the urban environment and the natural world.

Trees improve air quality:

• Trees absorb air pollutants and release oxygen
• Trees improve resiliency to climate change through the capture and storage of CO₂
• Trees combat the urban heat island effect and indirectly reduce atmospheric ozone through the reduction of air temperatures and providing shade

Trees improve water quality:

• Trees reduce peak stormwater runoff and pollutants into Milwaukee rivers and Lake Michigan
• Trees intercept rainfall and evaporate it through leaves
• Tree roots increase rainfall infiltration and storage in the soil

Trees provide wildlife habitat.

PROFIT

Trees profit the economy and generate energy savings.

• Trees enhance property values as people are willing to pay more for properties with trees

• Trees reduce the demand for energy and lower summer cooling costs by providing shade and lowering air temperatures

• Trees cause shoppers to linger in retail districts and spend more money

People are willing to pay more for goods and services when located in well landscaped business district.