Communities Are Heating Up, Community Forestry Can Help

As the summer heats up, so do communities.

In fact, studies have shown that cities and urban areas are, on average, 8 degrees hotter than rural areas. Lower-income neighborhoods are even hotter.

Extreme heat felt in cities and towns affects people’s health. During periods of extreme heat there are increases in heat stroke, respiratory distress, complications from COPD, blood pressure, and heart attacks.

There are three converging crises – increasing bouts of extreme heat, the urban heat island effect, and communities with low access to resources.

The difference in temperature between urban and rural areas is called the urban heat island effect. Built areas, with a combination of heat-absorbing materials, heat-generating systems (like air conditioners, appliances, and engines), and lack of trees and plants that provide shade and cool the air (via evapotranspiration), create urban heat islands.

Having less tree cover means there are fewer trees to filter harmful pollutants from the air and water. These heat and air quality impacts can be more impactful for residents who are young, elderly or who have other underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to urban heat impacts. Higher temperatures also endanger the health of wildlife, especially in urban areas where habitat is smaller and fragmented.

One way that communities can combat the urban heat island effect is through community forestry. Trees can help communities prepare for a number of impacts, including the urban heat island effect, while also improving water and air quality. The trees provide shade and cooling, pollution remediation, beauty, encourage shoppers and tourists, absorb stormwater, and act as storm buffers.

Trees are an effective tool to help reduce urban heat islands, allowing people to enjoy the outside safely by avoiding heat stress, and reduce the overall temperature. By planting new trees and improving the health of existing trees, communities can increase their canopy coverage in order to provide shade and lower temperatures. 

Technical Assistance for Community Forestry is Available

Through a generous grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Urban and Community Forestry Program provides communities with the resources and technical assistance to improve understanding and management of southern Illinois urban forests.

HeartLands Conservancy provides technical assistance to local units of government for development of local urban and community forests from downtowns to neighborhoods to cities to associated public lands.

Communities have the opportunity to change their environment by planting trees to support livable neighborhoods. In this effort, trees help reduce the urban heat island effect. Trees in urban settings are not just nice to haves, they are must haves that contribute to the liveability of cities big and small.