Did you know about the Green Heart Project? With the Inflation Reduction Act providing funding for cities to plant more trees this year, the Green Heart Louisville study provides compelling evidence for urban greening projects. By strategically planting trees, especially in disadvantaged areas near highways, we can create healthier, more equitable communities. The results are striking - after just a few years, people living in the tree-planted areas showed a 13% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a key marker of inflammation linked to heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. This improvement is comparable to the benefits of starting a regular exercise routine. But the benefits don't stop there. The study also found that BMI and cholesterol levels improved over time in the tree-planted neighborhoods. Researchers believe the trees act as natural filters, removing harmful air pollutants from the highway that can cause inflammation and exacerbate health issues. This research is a crucial step in quantifying the health benefits of urban trees and making the case for investing in our urban forests! Learn more about this project: Abernathy, B. (2020). Green Heart Louisville. https://lnkd.in/e-fyGNnA Van Velzer, R. (2019). Rebuilding Louisville's Urban Forest To Combat Climate Change. https://lnkd.in/eYvzBWzg Sullivan, K. & Thompson, A. (2024). Living in tree-filled neighborhoods may reduce risk of heart disease, study shows. https://lnkd.in/evMDANgg
The link between trees and human health is vital and in 2017, the first-of-its-kind, Green Heart Project was launched to explore this connection. Led by The Nature Conservancy and the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, this groundbreaking study demonstrates the power of adding trees to neighborhoods as a public health strategy. Watch this video to learn more!