Join us as Dr. Donovan discusses three studies linking urban trees with human health. First, he will show that women who have more trees around their home are less likely to have underweight or premature babies. Second, the spread of the emerald ash borer does more than cause environmental harm. In addition, counties infested with emerald ash borer have higher rates of cardiovascular and lower respiratory mortality. Finally, he will discuss the public-health impacts of a tree-planting program in Portland, Oregon where neighborhoods that have more tree planting also have lower rates of cardiovascular mortality. Taken together, these studies show that urban trees can have a profound effect on our health and strongly suggest that trees should be considered an essential part of a city’s public-health infrastructure.
After receiving his PhD in forest economics from Colorado State University in 2001, Geoffrey Donovan worked for 23 years as an economist for the USDA Forest Service in Alaska and Oregon. Currently he is the owner of Ash and Elm Consulting, which is focused on making the business case for urban trees.