Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review

Trees do a lot more than look nice. The urban forest is a green infrastructure system, delivering environmental, economic, social, and health benefits all at once. The environmental value of urban trees is well documented, but until now, no review had pulled together the full picture of how trees affect human health. This one does exactly that, and the findings make a strong case for treating trees as a public health resource.

The authors searched systematically across research on human health, environmental health, and urban forestry. After screening and reviewing thousands of articles, they organized 201 studies into a three-part framework. The largest group, 41% of studies, focused on reducing harm, covering things like air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, extreme heat, and pollen. Another 31% looked at restoring capacities, including attention restoration, mental health, stress reduction, and clinical outcomes. The remaining 28% examined building capacities, such as birth outcomes, active living, and weight status.

The studies varied widely in purpose and method, but together they point to important health outcomes tied to people’s exposure to trees. The review is designed to inform future research, policy, and nature-based health interventions, and it makes a compelling argument that urban forest planning should strategically promote trees as a social determinant of public health. In other words, where trees are planted isn’t just a landscaping decision. It’s a health decision.