Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives 

Urban forests play an important, multifaceted role in maintaining and improving the environmental conditions of cities, as well as contribute to the health of the people that live there. Since more than 80% of Virginians live in urbanized areas, it is increasingly important to invest in and take care of these forests.

Networks of trees and community forests can contribute to improved human health outcomes, overall well-being, and quality of life in urban environments. Numerous studies have found relationships between human exposure to urban forests and associated human mental and physical health benefits.

As a response to the increased research findings pertaining to the relationship between trees and human health, the Southern Group of State Foresters launched the campaign “Healthy Trees Healthy Lives” to promote this research nationwide.

Did you Know?

  • People are three times more likely to achieve recommended levels of activity when exercising in treescapes.
  • Higher tree density can decrease risk of childhood obesity by 12%.
  • Treescapes reduce the risk of dying from several common causes of death — including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases — by between 8-12%.
  • Cardiovascular disease is 1.5 times greater for individuals living greater than two blocks away from a park.
  • A 1% increase in proportional nearby usable greenspace equals a 4% decrease in rate of anxiety/mood disorder treatment.
  • Dementia patients with access to treed “wander gardens” reduced falls by 30% and medications by 10%.
  • 10% increase of urban tree canopy within a mother’s neighborhood decreases small gestational age births by 1.42 per 1000 and increases birthweights up to 15g.

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

Contact Us

For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.