Nine benefits of urban trees
Urban trees can help to mitigate some of the negative impacts and social consequences of urbaniza-
tion, and thus make cities more resilient to these changes. Here are nine ways in which urban trees and
forests contribute to making cities socio-economically and environmentally more sustainable:
• Trees can contribute to the increase of local food and nutrition security, providing food such as
fruits, nuts and leaves for both human consumption and fodder. Their wood, in turn, can be used
for cooking and heating.
• Trees play an important role in increasing urban biodiversity, providing plants and animals with
a favourable habitat, food and protection.
• A mature tree can absorb up to 150 kg of CO2
per year. As a result, trees play an important role in
climate change mitigation. Especially in cities with high levels of pollution, trees can improve air
quality, making cities healthier places to live in.
• Strategic placement of trees in cities can help to cool the air between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius,
thus reducing the urban “heat island” effect, and helping urban communities to adapt to the ef-
fects of climate change.
• Large trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates. They absorb pollutant
gases (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and sulfer oxides) and filter fine particu-
lates such as dust, dirt or smoke out of the air by trapping them on leaves and bark.
• Research shows that living in close proximity of urban green spaces and having access to them,
can improve physical and mental health, for example by decreasing high blood pressure and
stress. This, in turn, contributes to the well-being of urban communities.
• Mature trees regulate water flow and play a key role in preventing floods and reducing the risk of
natural disasters. A mature evergreen tree, for instance, can intercept more than 15 000 liters of
water per year.
• Trees also help to reduce carbon emissions by helping to conserve energy. For example, the cor-
rect placement of trees around buildings can reduce the need for air conditioning by 30 percent,
and reduce winter heating bills by 20-50 percent.
• Planning urban landscapes with trees can increase property value, by up to 20 percent, and at-
tract tourism and business.
Vocabulary:
Increase- aumentar; provide- fornecer; mitigate- diminuir; changes - mudanças; sustainable - susten-
táveis; such as - assim como; role- papel, função; research - pesquisa; cool - resfriar improve- melhorar
health- saúde; well-being - bem estar; buildings - prédios, construções.
05 - Releia o texto: “Nine benefits of urban trees” e responda as questões abaixo em Inglês ou Português:
a) What are the nine main benefits of trees for humans? Para os humanos, quais os nove princi-
pais benefícios que as árvores trazem?
How can trees help to decelerate Climate Change and Global Warming? Como as árvores aju-
dam a minimizar as mudanças climáticas e o aquecimento global?
c) How can trees help to keep the air clean? Como as árvores ajudam a manter o ar mais limpo?
d) Quais as sensações você percebe ao caminhar e visitar um parque ou outro local arborizado?
O que elas proporcionam a você?
Respostas
Resposta:
a- 1° food and nutrition security; 2° increasing urban biodiversity; 3° climate change mitigation; 4° filters for urban pollutants; 5° improve physical and mental health; 6° regulate water flow; 7° reduce carbon emissions; 8° cool the air; 9° increase property value.
b- A mature tree absorb up to 150kg of CO2 pear year, trees can improve air quality.
c- Large trees are excellent filters for urban polluant and fine particulates, they absorb polluants gases.
d- Consigo respirar melhor além de sentim uma brisa leve.
Explicação:
Espero ter ajudado
A)Food and nutrition security, Increasing urban biodiversity, Climate change mitigatian, Cool the air, Filters for urban pollutants, Improve plysical and metal heath, Regulate water flow, Reduce carbon emissions, Increase property value
B) Trees reduce the carbon footprint of the atmosphere by 30 percent and in the winter by 20-50 percent
C)They are able to absorb oxide and nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants that usually raise the local temperature. In the meantime, it aspires for oxygen, a gas totally necessary for our own existence
D) I feel the air cleaner, more refreshing, and more pleasant