What is an urban forest and why do we need one?

What is an urban forest?

Whilst our urban forest includes all vegetation, we recognise that trees provide the greatest combination of beneficial services to our community, environment, and economy. That's why the Urban Forest Strategy (UFS)(PDF, 9MB) focuses on growing our urban tree assets.

Why do we need an Urban Forest Strategy?

Sadly, data shows we are steadily losing our canopy of trees. Since 2010 we have lost an area just larger than Edgecliff. The loss of so many trees will make our streets and homes hotter, our local wildlife will decline, and there will be more carbon in the air. If we don't act now, we'll have just 23.8% tree canopy cover by 2050, which is less than our current canopy cover of 27.4%. 

Woollahra Urban Forest - benefits to our environment

About the Urban Forest Strategy

The biggest impact we can have on the cooling and wellbeing of our local area is to plant more large trees - and protect the trees we currently have.

To reach the UFS target we need to re-think how we integrate trees into our parklands, road reserves, streets, public spaces, and private properties, maximising all available and suitable public land. 

Take a trip through Woollahra's Urban Forest and find out why we value our trees so highly

Why plant more trees? 

In addition to providing shade, cooling our streets, cleaning the air, and providing habitat for wildlife, Australian research has found a number of health improvements in neighbourhoods with at least 30% tree canopy cover. More trees lead to:

  • Reduced psychological distress
  • Less chance of developing diabetes
  • Lower rates of cardiovascular disease
  • Lower rates of cardio hypertension

Trees also create a greener and more sustainable environment.

Did you know?

  • Trees remove carbon dioxide and air pollutants. In Woollahra, trees are estimated to remove 6,724kg of air pollutants per year and 166 tonnes of carbon.
  • Trees help manage stormwater when it rains. They soak up huge amounts of water through their branches, leaves and stems, and their clever root systems act as conduits, increasing the infiltration of groundwater at a rate 27 times higher than areas without trees.
  • Trees improve water quality by intercepting rainfall.

Woollahra Urban Forest - social and economic benefits

 

 

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