Benefits of Trees

Trees in Forests

Forests are well known for providing a renewable source of wood products. Some products come from the trees themselves, while others, like mushrooms or medicinal herbs, come from the forested environment. In addition to lumber, paper, and a host of other products, forests provide benefits called “ecosystem services”, including:

  • filtering air to improve air quality
  • preventing soil erosion
  • supplying places for outdoor recreation
  • providing wildlife and pollinator habitat
  • sequestering and storing carbon
  • protecting water quality
  • offering scenic beauty

Trees in Cities and Towns

Trees in urban areas and yards have value, too. Neighborhoods with lots of trees have lower crime rates, less air pollution, lower energy costs, and higher property values than those without trees. Walking among trees can improve health, and even viewing trees through a window can speed patient recovery times.

Learn more about the benefits of trees in communities.

Learn more about healthy trees healthy lives.

Trees in Riparian Areas

Trees in riparian, or streamside, zones provide special ecosystem benefits, including:

  • filtering runoff to remove pesticides, fertilizer, and other chemicals
  • preventing streambank erosion and keeping sediment out of the stream
  • shading streams to keep them cool for aquatic organisms
  • dropping organic matter that serves as food and microhabitat for aquatic organisms
  • absorbing excess water during storm events and releasing it slowly, reducing flood potential

Learn more about the benefits of streamside forests.


Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Forests: Providers of Ecosystem Services
Forests: Providers of Ecosystem ServicesP00142

Brochure provides insight into the other ecosystem benefits that forests provide, such as carbon sequestration, water quality, wetland and species mitigation banking. Printed copies available.

Viewforestland-conservationpublication
From Trees to Products - We Depend on Trees for Many Everyday Products
From Trees to Products – We Depend on Trees for Many Everyday ProductsFT0034

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about the products we get from trees, including solid wood products, wood pulp products and products from other tree parts.

Viewmarketing-and-utilizationpublication
Healthy Trees Healthy Lives Resources
Healthy Trees Healthy Lives Resources

Many resources are available through this website, a cooperative effort of the Southern Group of State Foresters, Western Forestry Leadership Coalition, and the Northeast Midwest State Foresters Alliance to educate about the connection of trees, forests, and health.

Viewurban-and-community-forestryresource
Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives
Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives

Presentation prepared by the Southern Group of State Foresters highlights the reasons trees contribute to healthy lives. (Warning – large file)

Viewurban-and-community-forestrypresentation
How to Plant a Windbreak to Conserve Energy
How to Plant a Windbreak to Conserve Energy

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shadewinter warmth, and winter windbreaks.

Viewurban-and-community-forestryresource
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Summer Shade
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Summer Shade

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade, winter warmth, and winter windbreaks.

Viewurban-and-community-forestryresource
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Winter Warmth
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Winter Warmth

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade, winter warmth, and winter winter windbreaks.

Viewurban-and-community-forestryresource
How Trees Can Save Energy
How Trees Can Save EnergyTCUSA No. 21

This Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Bulletin provides information about how trees can save energy. Trees have been called the low-tech solution to energy problems and climate change. Whether you want to reduce the amount of money you spend each month on utility bills or help guide your community toward wiser energy policies, the information in this Bulletin is of special importance.

Viewurban-and-community-forestrypublication
My Trees Count
My Trees Count

Every tree planted makes a difference to the health of our communities and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The DOF and partners want to highlight tree planting projects from across the state. Submit your tree planting to show that your trees count!

Viewurban-and-community-forestrystorymap
Riparian Forest Buffers - Forests on the Water's Edge
Riparian Forest Buffers – Forests on the Water’s EdgeP00140

Publication is the effort of the Chesapeake Bay Program, including multiple states within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, to educate the community leaders and the public about the benefits of riparian forest Buffers, their importance to watersheds for air quality, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, forest Buffer losses and how we manage growth in riparian zones, how to maintain quality riparian forest Buffers, efforts in riparian forest restoration, and what you can do for forest Buffers. Printed copies available.

Viewwatershedpublication
The Benefits of Trees!
The Benefits of Trees!PST006

Poster educates the public about the benefits of trees – human health, improved water quality, energy savings, reducing heat, and providing local wood sources. Printed copies available.

Viewurban-and-community-forestrypublication
The Benefits of Trees! (Los Beneficios de Los Arboles)
The Benefits of Trees! (Los Beneficios de Los Arboles)PST006

El póster educa al público sobre los beneficios de los árboles – mejor salud y bienestar, mejor calidad del agua, conservación de la energía, reducción de temperaturas extremas, y aprovechamiento de madera local. Los árboles mantienen nuestra salud y la salud del medio ambiente.

Viewurban-and-community-forestrypublication
Trees and Extreme Weather - Make Your Landscape Storm Ready
Trees and Extreme Weather – Make Your Landscape Storm ReadyFT0064

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about the benefits of trees and how to make your landscape storm ready and resilient against extreme storms.

Viewurban-and-community-forestrypublication
Valuing Virginia's Forests - Ecosystem Benefits Provided by Our Forests
Valuing Virginia’s Forests – Ecosystem Benefits Provided by Our ForestsFT0005

Forestry topic information sheet provides a brief overview of the indirect benefits, such as ecosystem services, that we derive from our forests. Printed copies available.

Viewforestland-conservationpublication