Why is Urban Canopy so important?
1. Climate Control: The built environment with materials like asphalt, brick, stone and concrete will produce a heat island effect making cities 1 to 3 degrees warmer than rural areas. This is caused from materials absorbing heat during the day and slowly releasing the heat over the cooler night temperatures. The shade of trees keeps these materials from capturing heat and as the trees transpire, they cool the area even more. This lowers energy cost for cooling buildings and increases the longevity of road conditions.
2. Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control: Trees use carbon dioxide in their respiration and photosynthesis process. They store this food to grow and capture this carbon as wood fibers. Trees can remove up to 60% of air pollution at street level including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfuric dioxide, and particulate matter like ash, dust, pollen and smoke.
3. Social and Health benefits: Studies have shown that trees can reduce crime rates, build stronger communities, improve public health (both physical and mental), increase success of business districts, slow vehicle traffic and encourage pedestrian traffic, and increase property values. Air quality can help individuals that suffer from asthma and people that have views of green space tend to be healthier while experiencing 23% less sick time.
4. Storm Water Mitigation: Trees intercept storm water by catching it with their leaves and slow the rate of flow to the ground surface. If over a pervious surface, this can allow time for the soil to absorb the rainfall and reduce runoff and erosion. If over an impervious surface, this can slow the flow of water to the storm water system and keep the rivers from flash flooding.
