Benefits of Trees

Wherever they grow — in your yard or throughout your community — trees are hard at work, providing vital benefits for people and the planet. We rely on them to clean our air and water, combat climate change, support wildlife, strengthen communities, and enhance both physical and mental health.

Here are four key benefits of trees, as outlined by the Arbor Day Foundation:

Clean Air Machines and Climate Change Fighters

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our planet’s health. While planting and caring for trees is just one part of the solution, it’s a proven, affordable, and natural way to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees sequester carbon in their trunks, continuing this process throughout their lifespans. Every tree planted and properly maintained is a positive step toward a healthier climate.

Builders of Healthier, Safer, and Cooler Communities

Trees play a crucial role in building healthier and safer communities. They clean the air, filter water, and help slow storm surges and flooding. In cities, trees provide shade and can lower temperatures by up to 10 degrees — a critical factor in preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths during extreme heat events.

Connectors of People and Communities

In a time when social and economic pressures continue to affect our society, trees help bridge divides. They bring people together across cultures and generations. Neighborhood trees reduce stress, support healthy child development, and encourage outdoor activity. A robust community tree canopy can also boost economic vitality and foster a strong sense of civic pride.

Scrubbers of Runoff

Rapid urban development often results in the loss of natural tree cover — and with it, the essential ability of vegetation and soil to absorb rainfall. Without trees and green infrastructure, rain becomes stormwater runoff, overwhelming aging drainage systems and carrying harmful pollutants like oil and heavy metals into rivers and lakes. This damages ecosystems, makes drinking water more difficult to purify, reduces property values, and degrades quality of life. Planting new trees — and caring for the ones we already have — helps reduce runoff and restores balance to our urban environments.

Grow the Future with Trees
Trees are more than just a pretty addition to our landscapes. They’re a powerful natural solution to many of the environmental and social challenges we face today. By planting and nurturing trees, we’re not only investing in cleaner air and water — we’re investing in a healthier, more connected future.

Discover the Power of Green Spaces

Green spaces do more than just beautify our neighborhoods – they help clean the air we breathe, cool our cities, reduce carbon levels, and promote healthier, more connected communities. Lawns, trees, and shrubs may seem simple, but together, they form powerful natural systems that benefit both people and the planet.

To help you understand the impact of your own green space, Project EverGreen invites you to explore the Clean Air Calculator™ –  a free, web-based tool that measures the environmental benefits of green spaces on your property.

Whether you’re a homeowner, landscape professional, golf course superintendent, sports field or park manager, or property owner, this innovative tool makes it easy to see the real-world impact of the green spaces you care for.

See how your green space makes a difference. Try the Clean Air Calculator today:
https://projectevergreen.org/clean-air-calculator/