“Trees are good for your health.” This is a fact that we, at the Tacoma Tree Foundation, often share with our supporters, as do most organizations in our line of work. Yet, it is uttered so often and widely that it is at risk of becoming commonplace. Yes, trees and access to green spaces improve our health and wellness. But how and why? And what are the ramifications of access to green spaces–or lack thereof–for individuals and communities? To better understand the correlation between green spaces and health, we’ve been researching for answers. In this blog post, Kirsten Iverson, a PLU Environmental Studies student and Tacoma Tree Foundation intern, shares some of our findings.

Does the health of our trees reflect the health of our communities? In this post, Joey Hulbert, PhD, Forest Health Watch Program Director, and his team explain why diversifying the trees in our urban forest is an important means of keeping trees, like the beloved native Bigleaf Maple, and other maple varieties, healthy and thriving.

What does Tacoma need to do in order to confront the health threats posed by the urban heat island effect and the overall challenges of climate change? In this post, Executive Director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation, Lowell Wyse, explains the health and environmental effects of urban heat island, how the Foundation and city and county partners are working to confront these challenges, and the urgent steps that leaders and governments must take today to ensure trees are an essential component of urban infrastructure tomorrow.