How does trees help to reduce noise pollution?
Trees, not only absorb carbon dioxide, provide shade, prevent erosion, but they can also help muffle noise. Think of trees as big, leafy, air-purifying, oxygen-producing, white noise machines. Acting as shields, trees reduce the intensity of the sound waves considerably and it is the sound produced by the wind passing through the leaves that really helps muffle noise. A properly-designed buffer of trees and shrubs can reduce noise by about five to ten decibels-or about 50 percent as perceived by the human ear, according to the USDA National Agroforestry Center. For maximum effect, experts suggest planting a variety of both hedges or shrubs and taller trees to create a wall of foliage from the ground up. Such examples as cottonwoods, poplar and aspen trees are especially good at noise reduction because their leaf-shapes produce a good, strong rustling sound.
