Alternative Label
- Urban forests
Code
U10
Year of Issue
2025
Sponge function(s)
Intercept rainfall
Slow down runoff
Temporary store runoff
Sector
Forest
Other sector(s)
Urban
Summary
Urban forest parks can deliver a broad range of hydrology-related and other ecosystem services. Forests in urban areas have great amenity value, can improve air quality, moderate local microclimates, improve urban biodiversity and contribute to climate change mitigation as well as having ancillary hydrological benefits. Forest soils often have greater infiltration capacity than other urban land cover and can be an important location for aquifer recharge.
Aerial view of forest parks (FR)
Source: Julien Franc, Survol de France
Belfast Forest (UK)
Source: Urban Nature Atlas
Benefit Table