Urban forests could cut Italian heat‑wave impact by over a third

A joint study by Italy’s National Research Council (CNR‑Iret) and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, published in npj Urban Sustainability, modeled the cooling effect of increasing tree cover to at least 30 % of city surface area. Using the i‑Tree Cool Air urban climate model on ten diverse Italian cities—including Bari, Bologna, Florence and Rome—the researchers estimated that such coverage would reduce extreme heat impact by roughly 36 %, a measure tied to excess mortality among residents over 65.

The cooling benefits were strongest in densely built, cement‑heavy neighborhoods, and depended on adequate water availability. The study also highlighted ancillary advantages such as lower air‑pollutant levels, higher carbon sequestration, and reduced storm‑water runoff, with an estimated economic value of about USD 56,000 per km² of canopy per year. The authors stress the need for integrated water‑management plans to sustain the trees, especially in increasingly dry Mediterranean climates, and plan to develop detailed maps to target the most suitable city districts for new planting.

“​I benefici sarebbero particolarmente importanti nei quartieri più cementati e densamente abitati…​” the researchers explained, underscoring urban forestry as a concrete solution for climate resilience and public‑health protection.