Key messages

• Forests and trees store carbon. This helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in and around urban areas.
• Strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius, increasing thermal comfort and reducing air conditioning needs by up to 30 percent.
• Trees can protect buildings from cold winds, helping to save energy used for heating by 20-50 percent.
• Urban trees are excellent air filters, removing harmful pollutants and fine particulates from the air.
• Trees reduce noise pollution, as they shield homes from nearby roads and industrial areas.
• Trees in cities can represent an additional source of fruits, nuts, wood, and natural remedies for the local population, either for use in the home or as a source of income.
• Woodfuel sourced from urban trees and planted forests on the outskirts of cities provide renewable energy for cooking and heating, improving the livelihoods and nutrition security of local communities, while reducing pressures on natural forests and reliance on fossil fuels.
• Forests in and around urban areas help to filter and regulate water, contributing to high-quality freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Forests also protect watersheds and prevent flooding by storing water in their branches and soil.
• Well-managed forests and trees in and around cities provide habitats, food and protection for many plants and animals, helping to maintain and increase biodiversity.
• Forests in cities and surrounding areas generate tourism, create jobs and encourage city beautification schemes, building dynamic, energetic and prosperous green economies and attracting investment.
• Urban green spaces, including forests, encourage active and healthy lifestyles, improve mental health, prevent disease, and provide a place for people to socialize.

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International Day of Forests - Making cities greener, healthier, happier places to live
Greening cities can greatly improve the Indian urban life and contribute to climate change mitigation