IMAGINE a city draped in a blanket of green A place where trees lean over sidewalks lending shade to people and other creatures Where the air is cool and clean where the trundle of streetcars and the sound of honking horns are muffled by the leaves and branches Imagine a busy humming city with a lush canopy of leaves making everyone down below feel safe calm and connected to the earth Is this the city you know
Our concrete jungles aren't always easy places for trees to grow The soil beneath sidewalks and roads can be hard packed and lacking in nutrients There are times when trees can't get enough rainwater The heat can be withering On some streets skyscrapers are like the walls of a deep canyon blocking out the natural sunlight that trees need to thrive Meanwhile artificial light from lampposts can disturb their natural rhythms affecting the timing of leaf and blossom growth And yet these green giants are essential to our urban spaces With pollution- and climate change fighting superpowers trees help make life in cities more healthy and rich with possibility So how do we create a forest in the city How do we build a place where people and trees can grow together in harmony As more and more of us around the world move into urban centers the answers to these questions are becoming urgent
