Trees are beautiful in the spring, but they do so much more than just look nice.

The mental health around having access to green spaces, being able to go to a park and see birds and

natural wildlife, all of those benefits is really what we're trying to

provide residents. It's Tuesday, April 9th and let me just take a look at my calendar.

Yep, today is Science Friday.

I'm Sci-Fi producer Kathleen Davis.

If you live in a city, the shade of a tree can be hugely important during a hot day.

There are a lot of functions that trees do that result in a better quality of life for us people.

But trees aren't equitably distributed in urban areas and that has

consequences. Ira spoke with two experts about urban trees live at the George

Washington University in Washington DC. We really came down to DC at the right time, right?

Weatherwise this week the famous Cherry blossoms are full bloom around the tidal basin as are the magnolias the other

flowering trees was just gorgeous as we say. Of course when the trees bloom

they're beautiful but the trees do a lot more in our cities than just look good.

They play an important role in absorbing heat, sequestering carbon dioxide, preventing

soil erosion, and here with me to talk about the importance of trees in our cities are my guests.

Dr. Mike Alonzo, assistant professor of environmental science at American

University and Ryan Alston, communications director at the Baltimore

Tree Trust.

Welcome to Science Friday.

Thank you.

Ryan, let's start with the types of trees we're likely to see when we walk around cities, Baltimore,

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