Science, Tech, Math › Animals & Nature A Tree's Importance and Environmental Benefit Share Flipboard Email Print Animals & Nature Forestry Tree Identification Basics Arboriculture Tree Structure & Physiology The Science Of Growing Trees Individual Hardwood Species Pests, Diseases, and Wildfires Amphibians Birds Habitat Profiles Mammals Reptiles Insects Marine Life Dinosaurs Evolution View More By Steve Nix Steve Nix Forestry Expert B.S., Forest Resource Management, University of Georgia Steve Nix is a natural resources consultant and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 17, 2017 01 of 09 The Urban Tree Book The Urban Tree Book. Three Rivers Press Arthur Plotnik has written a book called The Urban Tree Book. This book promotes trees in a new and interesting way. With the help of The Morton Arboretum, Mr. Plotnik takes you through an American urban forest, investigates 200 species of trees to give tree details unknown even to foresters.Plotnik combines key botanical tree information with fascinating stories from history, folklore, and today's news to make a thoroughly readable report. This book is a must read for any teacher, student or admirer of trees.A portion of his book makes a great case-in-point for planting and maintaining trees in and around the city. He explains why trees are so important to an urban community. He suggests eight reasons a tree is more than just beautiful and pleasing to the eye.The Morton Arboretum 02 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Make Effective Sound Barriers Royal Paulownia in Central Park. Steve Nix/About Forestry Trees make effective sound barriers: Trees muffle urban noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Trees, planted at strategic points in a neighborhood or around your house, can abate major noises from freeways and airports. 03 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Produce Oxygen German Tree Plantation. Placodus/Germany Trees produce oxygen: A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. 04 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Become Carbon Sinks der Wald. Placodus/Germany Trees become "carbon sinks": To produce its food, a tree absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide, a global warming suspect. An urban forest is a carbon storage area that can lock up as much carbon as it produces. 05 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Clean the Air Seedling Bed. TreesRus/About Forestry Trees clean the air: Trees help cleanse the air by intercepting airborne particles, reducing heat, and absorbing such pollutants as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees remove this air pollution by lowering air temperature, through respiration, and by retaining particulates. 06 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Shade and Cool Tree Shade. Steve Nix/About Forestry Trees shade and cool: Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in summer. In winter, trees break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be "heat islands," with temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding areas. 07 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Act as Windbreaks Arborvitae, A Favorite Windbreak. Steve Nix/About.com Trees act as windbreaks: During windy and cold seasons, trees act as windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30%. A reduction in wind can also reduce the drying effect on other vegetation behind the windbreak. 08 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Fight Soil Erosion Clearcuts on Mt. Bolivar. Recycle/About Forestry Trees fight soil erosion: Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater, and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms. 09 of 09 Eight Reasons to Plant Trees | Trees Increase Property Values Trees in Urban Spain. Art Plotkin Trees increase property values: Real estate values increase when trees beautify a property or neighborhood. Trees can increase the property value of your home by 15% or more. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Nix, Steve. "A Tree's Importance and Environmental Benefit." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/trees-importance-and-environmental-benefit-1342855. Nix, Steve. (2020, August 26). A Tree's Importance and Environmental Benefit. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/trees-importance-and-environmental-benefit-1342855 Nix, Steve. "A Tree's Importance and Environmental Benefit." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/trees-importance-and-environmental-benefit-1342855 (accessed June 5, 2023). copy citation