Urban forests: A promising solution for a healthier and more sustainable environment

 Manh-Tan Le
Royal HaskoningDHV
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9781-8977

“The mulberry tree spreads its lust greenery wide across the vast courtyard. At noon, faint rays of sunlight would penetrate through the thick mulberry leaves, painting dots of sunny flowers on the yard, mesmerizing those passing by.”

—In “Dream”; The Kingfisher Story Collection (2022)

[SCIENCE COMMUNICATION]

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, the focus on urban trees is intensifying. Research highlights their crucial role in mitigating climate change, improving public health, and providing significant economic benefits [1].

Urban trees function as natural air conditioners, cooling the air and surrounding surfaces, thereby reducing the "urban heat island" effect—a phenomenon where cities experience higher temperatures than surrounding areas due to heat-absorbing infrastructure. This cooling effect directly benefits human health by lowering the risks associated with rising temperatures, such as increased mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal diseases [2,3]. Globally, an estimated 356,000 lives are lost annually due to heat stress [4].

Beyond health benefits, urban trees offer significant environmental advantages. During photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, and release oxygen. This process not only purifies the air but also helps combat climate change.

Economically, urban trees present numerous opportunities. By shading buildings and reducing the need for air conditioning, they can significantly lower energy consumption and costs. Research shows that increased tree cover can reduce energy demand for indoor cooling by 2.3% to 90%, depending on the study [5].



Illustration. Urban trees in Ho Chi Minh City (Source: Dan Tri)

Given these benefits, urban reforestation—the process of planting trees in urban areas—is increasingly recognized as a crucial nature-based solution that contributes to a healthier and more sustainable environment.

The escalating climate crisis and its adverse impacts on human health necessitate immediate action. Investing in urban forests is not only an environmental strategy but also an investment in public health and economic well-being. By prioritizing urban reforestation efforts, we can create greener, cleaner, and healthier cities for current and future generations. Developing an eco-surplus culture among urban residents can improve public support and generate the necessary financial resources for urban forest development [6,7].

References

[1] McDonald RI, et al. (2024). Current inequality and future potential of US urban tree cover for reducing heat-related health impacts. npj Urban Sustainability, 4, 18. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-024-00150-3

[2] Majid E, et al. (2004). Comparative quantification of health risks: global and regional burden of disease attributable to selected major risk factors. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/42770

[3] McDonald RI, et al. (2016). Planting healthy air: A global analysis of the role of urban trees in addressing particulate matter pollution and extreme heat. The Nature Conservancy. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20163365297

[4] Burkart KG, et al. (2021). Estimating the cause-specific relative risks of non-optimal temperature on daily mortality: a two-part modelling approach applied to the Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet, 398(10301), 685-697. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01700-1/fulltext

[5] Ko Y. (2018). Trees and vegetation for residential energy conservation: A critical review for evidence-based urban greening in North America. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 34, 318-335. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866717306325

[6] Vuong QH. (2023). Mindsponge Theory. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3WHZ2B3

[7] Nguyen MH, Jones TE. (2022). Building an eco-surplus culture among urban residents is a novel strategy to improve finance for conservation in protected areas. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9, 426. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01441-9

[8] Vuong QH. (2022). The Kingfisher Story Collection. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG2NNHY6