SYRACUSE, N.Y., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say cities can improve their air quality by planting the right mix of trees for their climate.
The researchers at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y., said the ideal combination of greenery can increase carbon sequestration and reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds, such as isoprene, resulting in better-quality air and a reduction in greenhouse gases.
"We can make the air a lot healthier for people to breathe," said Allan Drew, a forest ecologist. "By modifying the planting mixture and using recommended management practices, we could reduce the carbon emissions.
"Trees serve other functions, too. They are aesthetic, they help control runoff, they affect the microclimate," he said. "Trees do a lot of things, but it would take a lot of trees in the right mixture to maximize the benefits."
The researchers considered only native species or non-native species that are not invasive.
