Trees provide numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits according to the document. They can shade public parks to reduce temperatures, protect coastlines by trapping sediments, educate communities through restored wetlands, and connect communities by providing shade in public spaces. Trees also help reshape neighborhoods, keep cities cool through reducing urban heat islands, welcome wildlife, clean air and water, celebrate culture, reduce flood risks, activate urban centers, slow climate change, and help people heal in hospitals. The document highlights how AECOM brings together experts from various fields to find innovative nature-based solutions to complex challenges around the world.

1. TREES AT WORK
They do more than you might think
Earth Day
2016

2. As Earth Day 2016 celebrates “Trees for the Earth,” we look at a few
of the many ways trees help us deliver a better world.
Trees can …Trees can …
Trees and natural solutions play an
essential role in our projects.

3. Draw people
“Preserving mature trees shades 60% of the public park during hot tropical
afternoons and reduces the ambient temperature by 10 degrees
Fahrenheit.”
- Blake Sanborn, principal, landscape architectureTrees can …
Ayala Triangle Design,
Manila, Philippines

4. Protect coastlines
“Mangroves and wetland forestation play a vital role in reducing coastal
erosion by trapping fine sediments.”
- Ainslee Burley, planner, environment
Trees can …
Mangrove Restorations,
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

5. Educate communities
“The restored wetland also provides science education and eco-tourism
opportunities, supporting the development of the city.”
- Lian Tao, associate director, landscape architecture
Trees can …
Weishan Wetland Park Restoration,
Shandong, China

6. Build connections
“Liberty Park’s 51 deciduous trees will reflect seasonal change and provide
shade during peak lunch hours at this elevated community space.”
- Gonzalo Cruz, principal, landscape architecture
Trees can …
Liberty Park Design,
World Trade Center, New York City,
United States

7. Reshape neighborhoods
“The trees in this new civic heart, which replaces a traffic intersection, reflect
the agricultural and rural heritage of this growing community.”
- Alastair Leighton, associate director, landscape architecture
Trees can …
Beenleigh Town Square Design,
Logan City, Australia

8. Keep cities cool
“Thermal modeling in London is quantifying the impact of tree planting on
reducing urban heat island effects.”
- Tom Lelyveld, associate director, sustainability and advanced design
Trees can …
Acton Gardens Climate
Adaptation Strategy,
London, United Kingdom

9. Welcome wildlife
“Old-growth forest provides nesting habitat for endangered species like the
marbled murrelet and shades coastal rivers where salmon spawn.”
-Petra Unger, principal, environment
Trees can …
Mill Creek Addition Planning,
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park,
California, United States

10. Clean soil, air and water
“Plant-assisted remediation is a green technology where trees and plants
can take up, store and degrade contaminants found in soil, water and air.”
- Barry Harding, phytoremediation practice leader, environmentTrees can …
Applied Phytoremediation Projects

11. Celebrate culture
“A green wall, walnut grove and etchings on the façade all celebrate
Sacramento, ‘The city of a million trees.’”
- Rob Rothblatt, principal, architecture
Trees can …
Golden 1 Center Design,
Sacramento, United States

12. Reduce flood danger
“Trees improve water quality and reduce run-off within catchments.”
- Cathryn Spence, director, environment
Trees can …
Elwy Natural Flood Management
and Ecosystem Services Study,
Wales, United Kingdom

13. Activate urban centers
“The Greenway brings new energy to the heart of a crowded city, providing a
natural respite while increasing property values by over 20% in two years.”
- David Jung, vice president, landscape architecture
Trees can …
Calligraphy Greenway Design,
Taichung City, Taiwan

14. Slow climate change
“We’re developing a tool to promote the creation of forests by helping
corporate investors measure and report on the environmental and social
benefits.”
- Christopher Eves, senior consultant, environmentTrees can …
Woodland Benefits Tool
Development,
United Kingdom

15. Help people heal
“Hospital patients with views of trees heal faster, need less pain medication,
and have fewer postsurgical complications than those who only see other
buildings.”
-Kristin Asmus, senior biologist, environmentTrees can …
El Camino Hospital
Landscape Design,
Mountain View,
California, United States

16. Earth Day
2016
At AECOM, we bring a team approach to complex challenges.
By connecting the expertise and insight from an unsurpassed
range of professionals with experience in more than 140
countries, we find innovative solutions and deliver
transformative outcomes.