Accelerating resiliency planning in communities across the Commonwealth

Search

Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health

Home » Community Action » Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health

Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health

Home » Community Action » Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health

Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human HealthThis report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station synthesizes adaptation actions to address climate change in urban forest management and promote human health and well-being through nature-based solutions. It compiles and organizes information from a wide range of peer-reviewed research and evidence-based reports on climate change adaptation, urban forest management, carbon sequestration and storage, and human health response to urban nature.

Urban areas can be particularly vulnerable to climate change due to extensive impervious cover, increased pollution, greater human population densities, and a concentration of built structures that intensify impacts from urban heat, drought, and extreme weather. Urban residents are at risk from a variety of climate stressors, which can cause both physical and mental harm. Urban forests and tree cover provide a critical role in helping cities address climate change by supporting greenhouse gas mitigation, reducing the impacts of extreme heat and altered climate that impair human health, and helping communities to adaptively respond through engagement with nature. At the same time, urban forests are vulnerable to changes in climate and in need of robust strategies to adapt to those changes.

As climate change impacts increase, efforts to “green” cities and adapt urban forests to changing conditions take on greater importance to support human health and well-being. Urban forest managers and allied professionals are looking for information to reduce climate risks to urban forests and secure their benefits for people and ecosystems. This report, Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health, synthesizes adaptation actions to address climate change in urban forest management and promote human health and well-being through nature-based solutions. It compiles and organizes information from a wide range of peer-reviewed research and evidence-based reports on climate change adaptation, urban forest management, carbon sequestration and storage, and human health response to urban nature.

This report includes the Urban Forest Climate and Health Adaptation Menu, which presents information and ideas for optimizing the climate and human health outcomes of urban forestry projects and provides professionals who are working at the intersection of climate, public health, and urban forestry with resources to support climate adaptation planning and activities. Notably, it does not provide specific recommendations or guidance for any particular place; rather, it offers a range of action opportunities at different scales that can be incorporated into either comprehensive or specific climate adaptation initiatives. The Menu can be used with an existing, tested adaptation process to help managers consider climate risks and explore the benefits and drawbacks of potential adaptation actions within the context of a particular situation or project. It also can be useful for generating productive discussions about community needs and values to guide planning, education and outreach, research, or changes in policy or infrastructure within communities.

Click here to view the report.

Become a Member
Become a Sponsor
Become a Volunteer

Sign Up for E-News

Get news and notifications from Resilient Virginia.

The Resilience Calendar

  • Spotlight On Local Resilience in Action
    Date: October 29, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    This session will highlight local resilience initiatives in Harrisonburg — Eateries Acting Towards Sustainability (EATS) and Harrisonburg Conservation Assistance Program (HCAP) — as well as the regional collaborative resilience initiative between Charlottesville and Albemarle County — Resilient…

  • October State Climate Policy Network National Call
    Date: October 29, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    Join Climate XChange for their monthly State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) national call. This one-hour, once-a-month call is the perfect opportunity to learn about and discuss recent state-level climate policy progress across the country.…

  • Best practices, barriers, and necessary conditions for climate adaptation in U.S. fisheries management: Insights from scientists and managers
    Date: October 30, 2025
    Location: Webinar
  • RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Date: October 30, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    Resilient Virginia Collaborative Alliance Agriculture Working Group monthly meeting. Anyone is welcome to join the conversation!

    RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Thursday, October 23 · 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Time zone: America/New_York

Latest News & Resources

Resilient Virginia News: Fall 2025

The Power of Partnership … Spotlight On Webinar Series … Resilience Certificate Survey … Interactive StoryMaps Advance Climate Equity … RVCA Updates … Tackling Emerging Contaminants Water Technical Assistance … Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Initiative … Firewise Virginia Community Hazard Mitigation Grant Program … more.

Read More »

Where Data Meets Story: Mapping Equity in Virginia

VCU RISE has launched interactive StoryMaps to highlight environmental justice issues in Charles City County, Emporia, and Richmond. Learn how these equity-focused tools blend local data, maps, and community stories to support planning, resource access, and climate resilience.

Read More »

The Power of Partnership: What It Means to Be a State Affiliate of ASBN

Resilient Virginia has joined the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) as a proud state affiliate—connecting our local work to a powerful national movement for a just, equitable, and sustainable economy. This partnership gives us—and our members—greater access to resources, national campaigns, funding opportunities, and a stronger policy voice. Learn how this affiliation is helping us scale impact and drive sustainable change across Virginia.

Read More »

Fall 2025 with Resilient Virginia: Engaging Leaders, Empowering Action

This fall, Resilient Virginia is rolling out a lineup of virtual and in-person events aimed at bringing people together and sharing real-world tools for building stronger, more resilient communities across the state. From webinars and workshops to networking meetups, there’s something for everyone—whether you’re focused on agriculture, energy, infrastructure, the economy, or community development, or just getting started on your resilience journey.

Read More »

Upcoming Resilience Talks

Couldn’t attend every session at the recent Resilient Virginia Conference — or weren’t able to attend at all? You’re not alone—and we’ve got you covered.

Resilient Virginia is planning a series of post-conference sessions that will revisit the most in-demand topics from the conference—and the first three are happening soon!

Read More »