About Boston’s Urban Forest
Why do trees matter?
Trees provide countless benefits in urban environments, such as:
Cool Urban Heat Islands
Boston is an urban heat island. Trees provide shade and release moisture in the surrounding air through a process called evapotranspiration. Both of these actions cool the surrounding area, providing relief from the heat.
Provide Economic Opportunities
It has been found that people will travel farther, stay longer, and spend more money at shopping centers with higher tree canopy cover. Trees in cities also provide an opportunity for jobs in urban forestry, as they require care and maintenance.
Reduce Air Pollution
City environments typically suffer from higher air pollution than surrounding areas. Trees remove hundreds to thousand of metric tons of pollutants per city per year, including ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide.
Foster Community
Trees encourage people to get outside, allowing for more opportunities to connect with neighbors. Urban green spaces have also been shown to increase a community’s social cohesion.
Improve Mental Health
People in cities suffer at higher rates from most mental health problems. Trees help people focus, reduce anxiety and stress, reduce noise pollution, creating a calmer environment, and reduce symptoms of ADHD.
Reduce Flooding and Water Pollution
Trees absorb water when it rains, reducing runoff and, therefore, the load for the sewers. In addition, trees help filter water, improving water quality.
Trees in Boston are Inequitably Distributed
Tree Canopy
Percent Racial/Ethnic Minority
Income
To learn more about tree distribution in Boston and its relationship to demographic, economic, and environmental factors, visit Speak for the Trees’ TreeEquity map.
Where Boston’s forest has been….
In 2020, the City of Boston released a Tree Canopy Assessment looking at the years from 2014-2019. The study found Boston’s tree canopy slightly declined from 2014 to 2019 with the majority of losses coming from residential (private) land.
In 2017, the City of Boston released An Assessment of Boston’s Tree Canopy based on imagery and LiDAR data from 2014 and 2016.
….and where it’s going
The City of Boston is currently working on an Urban Forest Plan. This plan will inform the city on how to manage and grow the city’s canopy for the nexst 20 years.
The consulting team includes:
- Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Planning and Community Engagement
- Urban Canopy Works, Planning and Urban Forestry Expertise
- Dr. Neenah Estrella-Luna, Social Equity Consultant
- American Forests, Workforce Development
- PlanIT Geo, Canopy and Tree Inventory
- Nitsch Engineering, Technical Expertise
