Why Trees Make You Happy!

At Friends of the Urban Forest, we believe planting and caring for trees is a low-tech, high-impact way to help San Franciscans in so many different ways. Trees cool hot streets, soak up stormwater, and just as importantly, offer quiet relief for the mind. Everyone in our city deserves those benefits. That's why we prioritize planting where shade and calm are needed most. One proven benefit of trees is the boost they give to our spirits. A growing body of research shows that exposure to trees and green spaces in cities delivers measurable mental health benefits. Studies and reviews report lower stress and anxiety, reduced symptoms of depression, improved mood and wellbeing, and even calmer stress hormone profiles among people who live near or spend time with urban trees. Even brief contact with green settings, like a short walk along a tree-lined street, can boost mood and restore attention (source). Why do trees help? They provide sensory richness (sight, sound, and scent) that distracts from stress, and they encourage outdoor activity and social connection. Emerging evidence also suggests that the quality and biodiversity of street trees is associated with outcomes like reduced antidepressant use and greater psychological benefits (source). Another important finding: mental health gains from green space are not evenly distributed. Research finds the biggest benefits often accrue for people who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods and have fewer resources, precisely the communities that historically have less tree canopy (source). If you believe that everyone in our city deserves to enjoy the benefits that trees provide, please consider helping us to plant more trees by making a gift today!