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Beyond Beautification: Trees Reduce Violence

by | Jun 25, 2026 | Blog

In neighborhoods, trees are responsible for providing shade, a place for kids to play, beautiful scenery, and the increased presence of wildlife. The benefits seem to be endless. Over time, many have tried to correlate the presence of trees in a neighborhood with an increase in crime. They would blame the lack of visibility that trees create, giving criminals a window to act. However, the opposite has proven to be true.

The presence of trees in a community has been associated with a reduction in crime and violence. One influential study that has validated this claim was conducted in Baltimore, Maryland. In collaboration with the National Forest Service, the University of Vermont compared neighborhoods throughout Baltimore based on their tree coverage. To control for external variables, the neighborhoods compared had similar levels of income, housing age, race, housing type, population density, and additional factors. By controlling these factors, the study confidently concluded that in Baltimore neighborhoods where the tree canopy was 10% higher compared to other Baltimore neighborhoods, occurrences of violent crime were 12% lower.

Trees are not the cause of lower crime, but the results of this study create an association between the amount of trees in an area and the levels of crime in that area.

So, while trees will not offer the same deterrent that a video-camera doorbell or a ‘secured by ADT’ sign provides, trees may play a role in reducing neighborhood crime while improving your physical and mental health, and many other aspects of your life.

Similarly, a 2017 study conducted in Philadelphia, PA, asked men to retrace the paths they had walked before becoming a victim of gun violence. Using map layers, researchers placed a map with tree locations on top of the victims’ paths. Controlling for the time of day, researchers found that being under tree cover resulted in lower incidences of gun violence. Again, this is an association, similar to the last study, though it is important to note that

While these associations do not prove causation, it is important to note that trees seem to produce endless benefits. Planting trees in hopes of reducing crime could result in a source of food, a place for kids to play or read a book, or a new spot to birdwatch! The positives outweigh any negatives in this situation!

At GHEP, we are dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and human development in order to eliminate disparities in health and education, one of which is safe neighborhoods and affordable housing. By investing in trees for your neighborhood and your communities, you know that you are not only beautifying your neighborhood, but you are doing your part in making your home safe! Do not wait; free trees are available through the Family Tree Adoption Program, which can be accessed at https://globalhealthprojects.org/tree-reservation/

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