(262) 538-1900 SE Wisconsin Arborist Locator
Contact Us

The Benefits of Trees

Why do we need trees in our neighborhoods and natural spaces? Beyond their obvious natural beauty, trees serve as critical, living infrastructure that directly impacts our environment, personal health, and economic well-being.

From cooling urban heat and filtering stormwater to boosting property values and accelerating healing, the benefits of trees are backed by decades of scientific research.

At Wachtel Tree Science, we believe that understanding the value of trees is the first step toward preserving them.

Explore the 20 research-backed benefits of trees below to see how investing in tree health pays lifelong dividends for our homes and communities.

Reduces Urban Heat

Shade and water vapor released by trees (evapotranspiration) cool streets and surrounding air.

Independent research shows the effect varies by climate and canopy density, ranging from about 2°F up to 10°F or more in strongly shaded areas.

Sources: 1, 2

Conserves Water

Tree canopies intercept rainfall before it reaches the ground, and root systems help water soak into the soil rather than rush into storm drains. This reduces the volume cities must manage — and the cost of managing it. A single mature tree can intercept several hundred to a few thousand gallons of rainfall per year.

Sources: 3

Enhances Air Quality

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants and release oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

One large tree can supply about a day’s oxygen for up to 4 people.

Sources: 4

Increases Property Value

Curb appeal, shade that lowers cooling costs, and windbreak effects all add up. Multiple independent studies confirm that mature, well-placed trees raise home values by roughly 3–15%, depending on location, tree maturity, and market.

Sources: 5

Wildlife Habitat and Food

Birds, pollinators, and mammals rely on trees for shelter, nesting sites, and food, making trees a foundational part of urban and forest ecosystems alike.

Sources: 6, 7, 8, 9

Prevents Soil Erosion

Extensive root systems bind soil in place, which is especially valuable along vulnerable shorelines such as
the bluffs of Lake Michigan, where erosion has damaged property and infrastructure.

Sources: 10, 11

May Help Reduce Crime

Green spaces are associated with lower stress and stronger community bonds, and well-maintained
trees can signal that a neighborhood is cared for.

Sources: 12

Creates Jobs

The tree care and forest products industries support many kinds of work: arborists, utility line clearance crews, park and forestry staff, landscape designers, nursery and logging operations, and tourism tied to forests and parks.

Sources: 13, 14, 15, 16

Beauty

Trees screen unattractive buildings and parking lots, add seasonal color and visual texture, and bring a sense of harmony to a landscape.

Sources: 17, 18

Reduces Noise

Dense plantings of trees and shrubs absorb, scatter, and deflect sound. Research consistently finds that wide, dense buffers reduce noise by roughly 5–15 decibels, depending on width, density, and species.

Sources: 19

Improves Soil Health

Deep tree roots draw minerals and water up from below the surface, and trees form symbiotic relationships with soil microbes that make nutrients more available to surrounding plants. Some species, like poplars, can also help break down soil pollutants (bioremediation).

Sources: 20, 21

Supports Faster Healing

In a landmark controlled study, surgical patients with a hospital window view of trees recovered a day faster on average, needed less pain medication, and had fewer complications than patients who viewed a brick wall. Wachtel Tree Science volunteers for an annual day of service at the Ronald McDonal House to help support this benefit in our local community.

Sources: 22, 23

Encourages Community Engagement

Tree-planting events, stewardship programs, and tree-lined trails bring neighbors together, build pride of place, and encourage walking, running, and biking.

Sources: 24

Sequesters Carbon

Through photosynthesis, trees absorb CO2 and store carbon in their trunk, bark, leaves, and roots — and in the soil, through decomposition. The widely cited figure is that a mature tree absorbs more than 48 pounds of CO2 per year.

Sources: 25, 26

Enhances Immunity

Time in forests can lower stress hormones and increase natural killer (NK) cell activity — immune cells that help fight viruses and cancer. Trees release airborne compounds called phytoncides that appear to help drive this effect, and better air quality supports respiratory health.

Sources: 27

May Improve Children's Test Scores

Some studies link greener school surroundings and tree views to higher test scores, better graduation rates, and improved attention and working memory in children.

Sources: 28, 29

Provides Food for Humans

Fruit and nut trees, along with urban orchards, provide a direct, local food source in addition to their environmental benefits.

Sources: 30

Contributes to Medicine

Compounds isolated from trees and other plants have historically been an important source of new medicines, including pain relievers and antibacterial compounds. Recent analysis indicates that 9-11% of US-approved medications are derived from plants, while the global and historical estimate is 25-28%.

Sources: 31

Improves Soil Structure

Fallen leaves add organic matter to topsoil, and tree roots aerate the soil, creating pore space and supporting the symbiotic microbes that keep soil healthy.

Sources: 32

Improves Water Quality

As rainwater filters through soil, tree roots help trap and filter out pollutants before they reach lakes, streams, and groundwater.

Sources: 33, 34

Footnotes / Sources

  1. Groundwork Milwaukee – Urban Heat Island Blog Post
  2. Wisconsin Public Radio – Milwaukee Seeing Hotter Summer Nights in Densely Developed Areas
  3. Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District – Stormwater Trees: Rainfall Interception
  4. National Park Service – How Trees Remove Air Pollution
  5. Wisconsin REALTORS® Association – Trees and Property Value
  6. Schlitz Audubon Nature Center – How Trees Strengthen Our Forests
  7. Wisconsin Woodland Info – Increasing Wildlife and Habitat in Your Woods
  8. Healthy Trees – Planting for the Birds
  9. Healthy Trees – 10 Trees in Wisconsin That Lure Wildlife
  10. Ozaukee County – Lake Michigan Bluff Erosion
  11. PBS Wisconsin – Concordia University’s Massive Seawall Frustrates Downstream Neighbors
  12. U.S. Forest Service – Trees and Crime Reduction Research
  13. Wisconsin DNR – Wisconsin Statewide Forest Assessment: Socioeconomics
  14. Wisconsin DNR – Forest Products Industry Factsheets
  15. Wisconsin Arborist Association – About the Wisconsin Arborist Association
  16. Healthy Trees – Empowering Future Arborists of a Growing Green Movement
  17. Auburn University Sustainability – The Beauty Value of Trees
  18. Urban Ecology Center – The Beauty of Fall Trees
  19. GreenBlue Urban – Trees as Sound Barriers
  20. One Tree Planted – How Trees Improve Soil Quality
  21. USDA – Trees Can Do the Dirty Work of Waste Cleanup
  22. USDA – Mentally and Physically, Trees Make a Difference
  23. Harvard Health Publishing – How Do Trees and Green Spaces Enhance Our Health?
  24. Arbor Day Foundation – A Tree Can Be the Equalizer
  25. National Park Service – Trees and Carbon Storage
  26. Penn State Extension – How Forests Store Carbon
  27. Systematic Review — Phytoncides and Immunity: From Forest to Facility (ScienceDirect)
  28. Sacramento Tree Foundation – Roots to Success
  29. Association of American Universities – Does School Performance Grow on Trees?
  30. USDA — Urban Agriculture and Community Orchards
  31. Casey Trees – Medicinal Trees
  32. World Agroforestry – How Trees Improve Soil
  33. One Tree Planted – How Trees Help Clean Water
  34. The Nature Conservancy – How Trees Prevent Stormwater Pollution