Crime Fighters & Therapists: The Low-cost, High Value Roles of Urban Trees

Supercool

Think trees are just pretty to look at? Think again. The greenery lining your streets is doing more for you than you likely realize—fighting crime, boosting mental health, and improving life expectancy. Trees are also a smart investment. By increasing property values, trees generate enough tax revenue to pay for their planting and maintenance three times over. While saving the Amazon might get more headlines, the trees right outside your door are quietly shaping the quality of your life in ways that are just as critical.

In this episode, Josh speaks with Geoffrey Donovan, an urban forester and economist at the U.S. Forest Service, whose cutting-edge research over the past two decades shows how essential urban trees are to our health and well-being. From reducing crime rates and lowering depression to supporting healthier pregnancies and increasing voter turnout, these local leafy giants are playing superhero roles we’re coming to understand.

Whether you're thinking about where to live next or what makes your neighborhood tick, it’s time to start inquiring about the quantity, diversity, and maturity of trees.

Show Links:

Guest: Geoffrey Donovan

Organization: U.S. Forest Service
For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:

* Youtube Channel
* Weekly Newsletter
* Instagram and LinkedIn