Danielle St-Aubin
CEO, Tree Canada
Tree Canada, the only national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments, addresses the importance of our urban forests and their health benefits.
Our day-to-day lives are intricately connected to the trees that surround us. In Canadian cities, forest cover has been declining for more than two decades. With over 82% of the population now living in urban centres, it’s increasingly important to recognize the benefits that urban forests provide us.
Forests in urban centres reduce our exposure to ultraviolet radiation through their shade, improve air and water quality through their filtration, silence noise through their damping, and cool our environment through their transpiration and shade.
The presence of, and access to, urban forests promote active lifestyles and regular exercise, reducing the risks posed by certain diseases. They have a positive effect on our psychological well-being, reducing stress and improving mental health, and they contribute indirectly to our health by producing fresh and nutritious food.
As spring approaches, there’s no better time than now to green your community. You’ll feel better for it!
