Urban Trees Cut Death Rates by 10%, Yet Israel Continues Mass Tree Felling

A new study from Northwestern University reveals that increasing tree canopy in urban neighborhoods can reduce annual mortality rates by about 10%. The research, conducted over 11 years in Chicago, analyzed over 220,000 deaths alongside satellite data on tree coverage, temperature, and socio-economic factors. It found that expanding tree cover led to significant declines in deaths from mental illness (16%), respiratory diseases (11%), cardiovascular conditions (9%), and musculoskeletal problems (9%). Trees improve public health by cooling urban heat, filtering air pollution, reducing stress hormones, and encouraging outdoor physical activity.

The study also highlighted stark inequalities: poorer neighborhoods in Chicago suffered from higher summer temperatures, greater tree loss, and mortality rates 2.5 times higher than wealthier areas. Even a modest annual increase of 0.03% in tree canopy, equivalent to planting 14,000 trees per year, could prevent 105 premature deaths annually, mostly in disadvantaged communities.

Despite global recognition of urban trees as vital health infrastructure, Israel continues to cut down trees at a high rate. Between 2014 and 2023, over 760,000 trees were legally felled in Israeli cities, including 144,230 in 2024 alone. This occurs even as the country declared a National Urban Cooling Plan in 2023, which has since stalled due to government changes and lack of funding. A recent State Comptroller report revealed that 90% of Israeli urban areas lack sufficient shade, exacerbating heat risks in densely populated neighborhoods.

Enforcement against illegal tree cutting is also weak. Since January 2024, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has not signed the necessary authorizations for inspectors to investigate or prosecute offenders, effectively halting enforcement for eight months. Fines remain low at 7,500 shekels per tree, and responsibility for enforcement is being transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture’s unit, which has faced criticism in past audits.

With climate change expected to increase heat stress across Israel, the study’s findings underscore the urgent need to protect and expand urban tree cover as a cost-effective public health measure. Yet current policies and enforcement gaps leave Israeli cities vulnerable to worsening heat-related health impacts.