Great Lakes Promote Urban Forestry | Union of Concerned Scientists

FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
Harvesting and degrading forests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change. Forests store large quantities of carbon, which makes their protection an important tool for mitigating carbon emissions. Forests also provide species habitat, conserve soils, reduce non-point pollution in rivers and streams, and regulate local rainfall. Although forest management is most important in the northern areas of the region, it has various applications that can be applied throughout.


Solution strategies:	CONSERVE & RESTORE FORESTS	MAINTAIN DIVERSE FORESTS	PROMOTE URBAN FORESTRY
Urban forest—areas with trees and shrubs within a city—are significant, and often overlooked, carbon sinks. Some programs already in place in the region recognize the benefits of maintaining and increasing urban tree cover for its cooling effects, air quality improvements, and general aesthetic appeal, but urban forests should also be considered for the role they can play in offsetting carbon dioxide emissions.