1. Global forests removed about one-third of fossil fuel emissions annually from 1990 to 2007.
2. Trees remove pollution from the atmosphere, improving air quality and human health.
3. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
4. During one year, a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange.
5. Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20–50% in energy used for heating.
6. In Baltimore, a 10% increase in tree canopy corresponded to a 12% decrease in crime.
7. Chicago public housing residents with nearby trees and natural landscapes reported 25% fewer acts of domestic aggression and violence.
8. In Portland, Oregon, homes with street trees sold for $7,130 more, on average, and 1.7 days more quickly.
9. In 1997, New York City spent $1.5 billion to preserve the forested watershed that supplies New York City’s drinking water by purchasing thousands of upstate acres of forested watershed. A filtration plant large enough to clean New York City’s water supply would have cost more than $6 billion dollars.