Trees in Urban areas

Trees in urban areas deliver multiple benefits, including improved aesthetics, microclimate regulation, and enhanced urban hydrology. They also serve as crucial biodiversity refuges and contribute significantly to reducing particulate air pollution. Trees intercept precipitation, reducing the volumeof rainfall that needs to be processed by sewers systems and other water urban infrastructure. The soil around urban trees often has a higher infiltration capacity compared tothe impermeable surfaces typically  found in urban areas. Additionally, trees transpire, drying the surrounding soil and creating greater capacity for subsequent rainfall storage.

Studies in the Mediterranean area confirm that their beneficial impact on stormwater control is most pronounced during the leaf-on season (late spring to summer) and when the soil beneath the trees maintains an adequate infiltration rate. These mechanisms highlight the significant role of urban trees in mitigating stormwater impacts while also delivering a broad array of ecological and social benefits.

Trees in Barcelona (ES)

Source: UFOREST project

Tree planting in Milan (IT)

Source: Forestami project