Environment protection is more important than ever, so let’s discuss an interesting list of the 25 most forested cities in America. Insider Monkey’s latest article will give you a great overview on this topic. While struggling with the coronavirus all over the world, we could see how big changes can happen if the industries stop operating. Green places in a city is not only important for the environment protection, but it’s much more pleasant and healthy to dwell in a city that has lots of parks, and forests.
Urban forests and parks are essential for soil stability, pollution absorption, wildlife protection, carbon sequestration, and of course for human well-being. More and more people visit regularly these forests and parks annually. Most of the visitors still go for walks to the forests, but there’s an increasing tendency of doing sports there, such as cycling, rollerskating etc.
A forest means not only trees, but it’s a residence for lots of wild animals, mammals, insects, birds. More than half of the known creatures live in the forests. A very good example for this diversity is the world of the rainforests, where we can find wide range of animals from rare parrots to anthropoid apes. A single “large” tree can produce so much oxygen a day, that is breathed in by 10 people during a year! Trees keep the city cool, as with the help of their foliages they make “shadow-oasis” around them. Their roots help with water absorption so they are useful in the flood-prevention. They also block wind, so they are natural windbreaks. As their roots can dissimilate toxins, they clean the nature. They decrease noise-pollution that is one of the main issues in the cities. In addition, there are lots of basic materials for medicine in the forests. All of these are very good reasons why we should have more forests in the cities.
And now, let’s check out our list of 25 most forested cities in the US.
25. Dallas, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 15
Total landscape in sq miles: 340.52
24. Fort Worth, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 16
Total landscape in sq miles: 339.82
23. Arlington, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 16
Total landscape in sq miles: 95.88
22. Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Percentage of the forest: 16
Total landscape in sq miles: 194.54
21. Kansas City, Missouri:
Percentage of the forest: 17
Total landscape in sq miles: 314.95
20. Virginia Beach, Virginia:
Percentage of the forest: 18
Total landscape in sq miles: 249.02
19. Houston, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 19
Total landscape in sq miles: 599.59
18. Tampa, Florida:
Percentage of the forest: 21
Total landscape in sq miles: 113.41
17. Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky:
Percentage of the forest: 20
Total landscape in sq miles: 325.25
16. New Mexico:
Percentage of the forest: 21
Total landscape in sq miles: 187.73
15. Tulsa, Oklahoma:
Percentage of the forest: 22
Total landscape in sq miles: 196.75
14. Oakland, California:
Percentage of the forest: 24
Total landscape in sq miles: 55.79
13. San Antonio, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 25
Total landscape in sq miles: 460.93
12. Charlotte, North Carolina:
Percentage of the forest: 26
Total landscape in sq miles: 297.68
11. Raleigh, North Carolina:
Percentage of the forest: 29
Total landscape in sq miles: 142.90
10. Memphis, Tennessee:
Percentage of the forest: 31
Total landscape in sq miles: 315.06
9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
Percentage of the forest: 31
Total landscape in sq miles: 606.41
8. Atlanta, Georgia:
Percentage of the forest: 32
Total landscape in sq miles: 133.15
7. Austin, Texas:
Percentage of the forest: 33
Total landscape in sq miles: 297.90
6. Fresno, California:
Percentage of the forest: 33
Total landscape in sq miles: 111.96
5. Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government, Tennessee:
Percentage of the forest: 38
Total landscape in sq miles: 475.13
4. San Jose, California:
Percentage of the forest: 41
Total landscape in sq miles: 176.53
3. Portland, Oregon:
Percentage of the forest: 44
Total landscape in sq miles: 133.43
2. Jacksonville, Florida:
Percentage of the forest: 46
Total landscape in sq miles: 747
1. Seattle, Washington:
Percentage of the forest: 66
Total landscape in sq miles: 83.94
These amazing numbers make Seattle the first one on our list of the 25 most forested city in the US.
