Funding Trees for Health: An Analysis on Finance and Policy Actions to Enable Tree Planting for Public Health

The full paper offers several specific examples of innovative public-sector partnership and private sector investments that highlight the full societal value of urban trees. However, municipal leaders in communities of all sizes can begin to address significant health challenges by thinking creatively about the role of nature in cities and towns:

• Establish codes to set minimum open space or maximum building lot coverage ratios for new development.
• Implement policies to incentivize private tree planting.
• Break down municipal silos to facilitate various departments – such as public health and environmental agencies – to collaborate.
• Link funding for trees and parks to health goals and objectives.
• Invest time and effort in educating the public about the tangible public health benefits and economic impact of trees.