Ecological functions and human benefits of urban forests

The recent sprawl of urbanization in the Eastern U.S. perpetuated by population growth and economic success has caused landscapes to become vulnerable to degradation. As urban development encroaches on such landscapes, various anthropogenic stressors are introduced including air pollution, land conversion, and alterations in watershed hydrology. Across various disciplines, urban forests have been presented as a method to ameliorate human and environmental health in metropolitan environments. Understanding how to incorporate urban forestry into city design is critical and urban planners would benefit from a review that holistically describes the diverse set of services urban forests have to offer. We conducted a review to highlight the ecological functions and human benefits of urban forests and to identify gaps in the literature. We synthesized the findings of research studies in the last 20 years to illuminate the human, abiotic, and biotic services of urban forestry. As environmental quality is rapidly deteriorating in anthropogenic environments, our findings suggest city planners should consider trees as a method of mitigation to alleviate these impacts. Ultimately, when managing urban forests, an interdisciplinary approach involving all levels of governance is necessary to ensure the maximum potential of urban trees. Through this study, the consolidated research can aid in sustainable development and innovation to combat the anthropogenic stressors associated with the sprawl of urbanization.

Automated summary

The recent sprawl of urbanization in the Eastern U.S. has made landscapes vulnerable to degradation. Urban forests have been presented as a method to ameliorate human and environmental health in metropolitan environments. This study highlights the ecological functions and human benefits of urban forests and emphasizes the importance of incorporating trees into city design for mitigating environmental impacts.