We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Better Forests, Better Cities
Summary
This report evaluates how forests inside and outside city boundaries provide benefits to urban residents, from air and water purification to mental health and temperature regulation. It examines what actions cities can take to protect, restore, and sustainably manage these forests. The report serves as a comprehensive resource connecting urban forestry to public health and resilience.
Better Forests, Better Cities evaluates how forests both inside and outside city boundaries benefit cities and their residents, and what actions cities can take to conserve, restore and sustainably manage those forests. This report is the first of its kind comprehensive resource on the connection between cities and forests, synthesizing hundreds of research papers and reports to show how all forest types can deliver a diverse suite of benefits to cities.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Urban forest invertebrates: how they shape and respond to the urban environment
Researchers reviewed how invertebrates (insects, worms, spiders, and others) function as essential ecosystem engineers in urban forests, contributing to pollination, decomposition, pest control, and seed dispersal. They also found that urban stressors like pollution, heat, and impervious pavement increasingly threaten urban invertebrate communities, with ripple effects on the broader services these forests provide to city residents.
The Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Urban Trees for Resilience in Regional Ecosystems in Cities: A Mini-Review
This mini-review examines the morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits that determine urban tree resilience to stressors like CO2, drought, and heat. The authors propose an integrated research framework linking ecosystem resilience to urban tree physiological responses to combined environmental stressors.
Harnessing soil biodiversity to promote human health in cities
Researchers argue that urban soil biodiversity — the vast community of microorganisms, fungi, and invertebrates living in city soils — plays an overlooked role in human health by suppressing pathogens, shaping the human microbiome, and supporting immune function, and that restoring it in cities could offer meaningful public health benefits.
Under Pressure: Environmental Stressors in Urban Ecosystems and Their Ecological and Social Consequences on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being
This review synthesized current knowledge on seven major urban environmental stressors—including air pollution, water degradation, and microplastics—and their ecological and social consequences for urban ecosystems. It highlighted how these pressures interact to threaten biodiversity and human well-being in cities.
The Non-Linear Impact of Green Space Recreational Service Performance on Residents’ Emotional States in High-Density Cities
Researchers assessed green space recreational service performance in high-density Chinese cities and modeled its non-linear relationship with residents' emotional well-being. They found that moderate green space quality and accessibility had the strongest positive effects on emotional health, with diminishing returns at very high provision levels, informing urban park planning priorities.