JSOR Daily: “Trees are more than just a pretty sight in urban environments. Nestled amidst sidewalks, pavement, and concrete, the sight of an oak or maple tree has always been a refreshing touch of home for me in a bustling city. Beyond their aesthetic value, trees provide numerous tangible benefits to the holistic environmental health of our communities. According to research conducted by a team led by Veniece Jennings, trees support the filtration of air pollutants that could otherwise damage human lungs, provide shade that lowers the urban heat island effect, and serve as refuges for biodiversity that can help serve as a natural buffer for disease and improve climate resiliency…

As planning and ecology scholar Michael Drescher warns, “[t]he average life expectancy of an urban street tree is 19 to 28 y[ears], which means that many trees die before they can deliver substantial benefits.”