Trees would not only benefit general health and aesthetic beauty but would also save cities a lot of money. Serving as buffers, trees cleanse the air of pollution and other toxins. In addition to this environmental aspect, trees also serve to reduce energy costs by blocking out the wind and sun. Economic and ecological benefits are important, but the presence of trees in an urban area can have a therapeutic effect by reducing stress levels. A University of Illinois study revealed that apartment building residents seemed to have stronger relationships with neighbors and experience less domestic violence when surrounded by some degree of foliage.
Urbanization also impacts epidemiology and disease profiles.
Increasing population density can aid in the spread and emergence of disease, as well as reemergence of old ones. Additionally, there are other affects associated with epidemiology and urbanization that contributes to a lower level of overall health, such as emotional stress, loss of family structure, congested traffic, noise, and environmental pollution. The importance of urban trees and forests is more the meets the eye. They do have plenty of aesthetic value, but their roles within a community hold functional purposes as well. However, due to rapid urbanization our cities are destroying more trees than they are planting.