Naremburn Matters \ July 2024 Volume 22 No. 2 Page 6 can also help reduce flooding by capturing large amounts of rain in their root systems and canopies, in comparison to rain that falls on hard surfaces like concrete. They can also reduce noise pollution by absorbing and blocking urban noise. Our urban tree canopy: Why does it matter? BY ALANA PRICHARD Urban tree canopies play a significant role in helping create cooler, livable neighbourhoods, and benefit the health and wellbeing of the entire community. With the effects of climate change being felt around the country, they’re now more important than ever. Sydney’s leafy North Shore is renowned for its established tree canopy, from the jacaranda-lined streets of Kirribilli to the Port Jackson figs of Balmoral. Our own local area of Naremburn borders on Flat Rock Gully, home to 14 hectares of bushland with a canopy rich in native eucalyptus, smoothbarked apple and rainforest. The benefits of trees in urban areas are wideranging, which is why the NSW Government has set a target of 40% canopy cover for Greater Sydney by 2036. Willoughby City Council’s tree canopy currently covers 35% of the local government area, 5% short of the state target. Notably, the majority of this tree canopy is on public land. However, Willoughby City Council is losing much of its urban tree canopy, with nearly 13 hectares of residential trees lost over the last 10 years. That’s the equivalent of 483 tennis courts; almost as large as the expanse of native bushland in Flat Rock Gully. With the massive loss in residential tree canopy over the last decade, it’s a good time to revisit why the urban canopy is so important for the community, and the practical benefits trees provide particularly on residential land. Health and Wellbeing Trees improve air quality by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, reducing smog and making it easier to breathe for people with respiratory problems like asthma. The ability of trees to reduce air pollution increases as trees mature. Additionally, trees and greener environments are strongly linked to emotional and psychological well-being, with a positive impact on mental health. Practical Benefits The practical benefits of an urban canopy are even more important in the era of climate change, marked by increased temperatures and a propensity for heavy, prolonged rainfall. The shade provided by trees lowers air temperatures in summer. When near buildings, trees can reduce the demand for heating and cooling, resulting in lower power bills and less greenhouse gas emissions. Trees Recent mass tree clearing at Naremburn for the Warringah Freeway Upgrade Works has reduced our areas tree canopy Climate Change Mitigation and Biodiversity Trees are natural carbon capturers, removing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from the atmosphere and storing it in their leaves, branches and roots. The more mature a tree is, the more These trees provide habitat for local wildlife including: birds, bats and possums carbon it can store. Trees also significantly contribute to urban cooling, and can be responsible for median temperature reductions of between 1.9ºC and 9ºC in urban centres. Finally, trees are important for biodiversity, providing food, protection and habitat for birds, insects, animals and other plants – the cornerstone of a sustainable city. Want to know more? Willoughby City Council’s Love your Trees campaign is a program that aims to provide residents with opportunities to learn more about trees and why they are important to local communities. Learn more at https:// www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Campaigns/ Love-Your-Trees “Ausgrid recently removed dead branches from this neighborhood landmark tree currently under assessment by council on Brook St”
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