CURATED BY NIKI DE WITT
According to a study conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and Davey Institute, the benefits of having an urban forest are greater than just a walk in the park. Urban forests reduce hospital visits, prevent sick days and even reduce mortality.
FROM GRIST
Next time you hug a city-dwelling tree, be sure to whisper quiet thanks for the lives it is helping to save.
Researchers recently calculated that urban forests help save one or more people from dying every year in each of 10 major cities studied.
Trees growing in cities help clean the air of fine particulate air pollution “” soot, smoke, dust, dirt “” that can lodge in human lungs and cause health problems. Trees clear 71 tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from Atlanta’s air annually. And they suck up enough pollution to save seven or eight lives every year in New York City. …Continue Reading
Niki is currently exploring Asia while working on a children’s book series about travel. As a child, she traveled and moved often for her parents’ jobs. As a result of this, she has always felt most at home when she’s off and away. She is interested in international films, working on building an impressive tea collection, and can often be found with her camera in hand. You can have a look-see at her blog and follow her on Twitter @nikidding.
Feature photo by Eduardo Zarate