Urban forests: Environmental impacts and profitability for cities

Lafontaine-Messier M, . and Olivier A Uni. Laval Quebec, . and Chicoine B. Tree Canada Ottawa, . (2010) Urban forests: Environmental impacts and profitability for cities. [Proceedings Paper]

Cities are the result of modifications of the natural environment in order to serve the needs of its population. However these transformations and the intensification of development can lead to severe environmental and social problems which must be addressed in order to ensure the sustainable development of these urban areas. Urban forests have been proposed as a way to help minimize these problems. This paper presents the most recent results from scientific literature related to urban forests. It analyzes the environmental and social benefits provided by trees in urban areas with the objective of evaluating the profitability for municipalities of investing their resources in the development and management ofurban forest. Results from this literature review clearly show that trees can have a significant impact on the urban environment by combating the heat island effect capturing air contaminants and reducing storm-water runoff. Economic analyses consistently report positive benefit-cost ratios not only because urban populations are usually willing to pay for the preservation of trees in their environment but also because of the environmental and other benefits these trees provide. Thus in spite of high initial planting and maintenance costs urban forest management programs would be profitable in the long term including to the mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change especially extreme heat waves and severe precipitation events. However it is clear that urban forests alone cannot solve the severe environmental problems observed in cities. In order to address these problems global and integrated strategies in which urban forestry could play major role must be developed.

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Abstract

Cities are the result of modifications of the natural environment in order to serve the needs of its population. However these transformations and the intensification of development can lead to severe environmental and social problems which must be addressed in order to ensure the sustainable development of these urban areas. Urban forests have been proposed as a way to help minimize these problems. This paper presents the most recent results from scientific literature related to urban forests. It analyzes the environmental and social benefits provided by trees in urban areas with the objective of evaluating the profitability for municipalities of investing their resources in the development and management ofurban forest. Results from this literature review clearly show that trees can have a significant impact on the urban environment by combating the heat island effect capturing air contaminants and reducing storm-water runoff. Economic analyses consistently report positive benefit-cost ratios not only because urban populations are usually willing to pay for the preservation of trees in their environment but also because of the environmental and other benefits these trees provide. Thus in spite of high initial planting and maintenance costs urban forest management programs would be profitable in the long term including to the mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change especially extreme heat waves and severe precipitation events. However it is clear that urban forests alone cannot solve the severe environmental problems observed in cities. In order to address these problems global and integrated strategies in which urban forestry could play major role must be developed.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	1 tables; 45 ref.
AGROVOC Term:	Urban forests
AGROVOC Term:	Environmental impact
AGROVOC Term:	Climatic changes”Environmental aspects
AGROVOC Term:	Climatic changes”Effect of human beings on
AGROVOC Term:	Cities
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11497

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