By Joshua Jones
Trees can certainly add to the aesthetic of a college, but their benefits span far past their beauty for the students, faculty and staff that walk the campus.
Trees can boost both students’ mental and physical health, and make their area a quieter, cleaner and greener place to be.
Between commuters and pedestrians, colleges often have large parking lots and sidewalks that absorb heat from the sun and radiate it through the night, resulting in what is called an “urban heat island,” said David Husemoller, the sustainability manager at College of Lake County.
Husemoller said that trees “transpire,” a process he likened to the way that humans sweat, which lowers the temperature of the area around them through evaporative cooling.
Dropping temperatures up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit, trees can lead to reduced energy use and prevent heat-related deaths, according to Pitt Sustainability.
Trees can also protect biodiversity by providing a habitat for birds and pollinators, and they prevent urban flooding by managing stormwater.
Furthermore, trees with foliage that reaches the ground can be useful for noise reduction. Thicker mixed broadleafs and conifers can drop noise levels up to 10 decibels, according to The Washington Post.
In addition to these environmental benefits, student wellness is bolstered when trees are nearby, especially those who suffer from certain medical conditions.
According to The Nature Conservatory, trees can filter particulate matter through their leaves, resulting in cleaner air that reduces illnesses like asthma and heart disease.
They also absorb carbon dioxide through their food-making process called photosynthesis. A byproduct of this chemical reaction is the oxygen we breathe.
College can be particularly draining of students’ mental health, and according to Psychology Today, 1-in-5 college students suffer from anxiety or depression.
Research shows, though, that exposure to trees and green spaces can improve mental health, as well as increase performance in school, according to American Forests.
Maurice Coley, superintendent of grounds operations at Georgia Southern University, said the manicured look of his campus’s trees provides a sense of serenity.
“Take for example when there’s a new subdivision that’s been carved out and all the houses are there. Everything looks bland and open,” said Coley. “But with all the mature trees all together, it’s more inviting. It gives you a sense of relief, peace, calm.”
With all the positives trees offer, they can be a worthy investment for a college looking to improve its campus life, but they are by no means a cheap one.
Trees can cost hundreds of dollars to plant, and maintenance costs can be even steeper.
A tree in an urban landscape such as a college campus is going to be under some degree of stress, making it more susceptible to boring insects, said Chuck Dill, a tree expert for Southern Scapes Nursery in Statesboro, Georgia.
Dill added that if a tree becomes infested, a professional arborist would need to be called in to assess the situation, and treatment could cost $100 or more.
Further, trees could lead to hefty repair costs for structural damage, as roots can crack building foundations or sidewalks, said Coley.
Even with these potential expenses, though, trees can surely be a net positive asset. A study by Corinne Bassett at the University of Pennsylvania found that its trees saved the university over $60,000 in energy costs and stormwater runoff expenses, while generating around $80,000 in improved health outcomes from better air quality.
Through their biological processes and appearance, trees are a factory for improving the well-being of those nearby and cleansing the world around them, so their presence at a college or university is sure to render positive outcomes for those on campus.
Graphic by Joshua Jones