The urban forest is the ecosystem containing all of the trees, plants and associated animals in the urban environment, both in and around the city. Read on to learn about the importance of urban forests…
According to the 2021 census, 80.7% of Americans live in urban areas. Of the 50 states, California was the most urban, with an astonishing 94.2%
of its population residing within urban areas. As the United States becomes a more urbanized nation, urban forests are more important than ever before. The benefits of urban forests are numerous; from filtering water and air, conserving energy, controlling storm water, and by providing animal habitat.They add beauty, form, and structure to urban design. By reducing noise and providing places to recreate, urban forests strengthen social cohesion, spur community revitalization, and add economic value to our communities.
- Trees mitigate the urban heat island effects by providing shading, reducing interior temperatures by up to 10 degrees
- Trees provide shade, moisture and windbreaks, decreasing the amount of energy needed to cool and heat our homes and offices
- Trees on residential properties can reduce heating and cooling costs by 8 – 12%
The beauty of urban forests is that they can be very small. Pocket parks, tiny urban forests, micro forests…one needs very little space to create a bio-diverse urban forest. A forest planted in the Miyawaki method can thrive and make a positive environmental difference in a space the size of a tennis court, or a few parking spaces. The Miyawaki method is an approach that prioritizes the natural development of forests using native species. Miyawaki forests can grow into mature ecosystems in just 20 years – astonishingly fast when compared to the 200 years it can take a forest to regenerate on its own. They act as oases for biodiversity, supporting up to 20 times as many species as non-native, managed forests.
Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants – The US Forest Service is making up to $1 billion available in Urban and Community Forestry competitive grants for investments that:
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- Increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities
- Broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning
- Improve community and urban forest resilience to climate change, pests and storm events through best management and maintenance practices
Interested in creating your own urban forest or seeing an increase in the tree canopy in your area? There are several local organizations working toward the same goal in San Diego:
- Urban Corps of San Diego County – Urban Corps of San Diego County is a certified local conservation corps that educates and employs under-served, low-income young adults ages 18-26, allowing them to complete high school and get paid while acquiring job skills training through a variety of projects including tree planting, environmental services, fire fuel reduction, community improvement services, habitat restoration, graffiti removal, landscaping, green building construction and recycling.
- California ReLeaf – Participate in urban forestry in your neighborhood! Search the network directory to find a community group near you, learn about upcoming events, get in touch, pick up a shovel and get involved.
- Tree San Diego – Growing San Diego’s Urban Forest -Tree San Diego is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality, density, and sustainability of the region’s urban forests for the benefit of all communities and the environment.
Want to learn more about the Importance of Urban Forests? Read Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rebuild the World,” by Hannah Lewis or contact your Arborist Expert at Atlas Tree Service.
