Good Health
M
unicipal arborists have to possess an interesting blend of skills. They have to address the nitty-gritty
of scientific tree and forest management, but they also have to be adept at advocating for their city’s green infrastructure. City trees provide public goods from pub- lic dollars (as do other investments like schools and fire stations). Green Cities: Good Health is a research- summary website that city foresters can use to build a stronger, broader case for their city greening efforts.
The i-Tree suite of tools helps city forestry profes- sionals to quantitatively document the benefits and value of the urban forest in terms of environmental services like energy conservation, carbon storage, and stormwater retention. The Green Cities: Good Health web site provides the evidence for another part of the story; it is a catalog of the urban greening research that documents social, economic, and cul- tural benefits. The link to Green Cities: Good Health is http://www.greenhealth.washington.edu.
Above: Scientific measures of stress response (such as heart rate and blood pressure) can improve quickly when one views nature, leading to better long-term health. Photo by Guy Kramer
Left: City streets are thoroughfares for motor vehicles and can also serve as public spaces. A quality streetscape may be safer, as vegetation and mixed-use transportation affects crash rates. Photo by Guy Kramer
