Climate Community Health Our Partners

Driving Change in Communities

100,000 trees. 49 states. See how a bold partnership is closing the green gaps nationwide.

September 23, 2025

A close-up of green leaves sprouting from a small branch in front of a Subaru car emblem, contrasting nature with automotive design.

Trees are the frontline of community resilience. That’s why the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with Subaru and its retailers, are putting them to work.

Trees are doing critical work — cleaning our air, cooling overheated neighborhoods, and protecting public health. They’re not just part of the background; they’re critical infrastructure. And in communities where trees are lacking, the difference is easy to feel.

That’s why the Arbor Day Foundation is proud to partner with companies like Subaru to ensure more communities experience the life-changing benefits of trees — right where people live, work, and play.

Because urban forests don’t grow themselves. Behind every canopy is a dedicated network of local leaders, nonprofit organizations, and companies working together to bring the benefits of trees closer to home.

A vibrant lakeside park scene at sunset, featuring cyclists, walkers, and people relaxing on benches amidst lush greenery.

The Science is Clear: Trees Make Us Healthier

It’s easy to overlook something that works so quietly. But one large tree can provide a full day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people, and a single tree can absorb nearly 10 pounds of polluted air each year and release 260 pounds of oxygen in return.

In the U.S. alone, urban and community trees remove over 711,000 metric tons of air pollution annually — delivering an estimated $3.8 billion in public health value. From filtering toxins and trapping pollutants to reducing asthma triggers and respiratory illness, trees are our first line of defense in a world where air quality is declining, and health disparities are growing.

The 2025 Canopy Report, a nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Foundation, tells us what most people already feel instinctively — life is just better with trees.

90% of Americans believe trees are vital to community health and well-being.

91% believe cities should be designed with green spaces in mind, and 90% agree trees help make neighborhoods more livable.

83% of Americans prefer to live in a home around mature trees, and 80% say if a tree is removed in their neighborhood that it should always be replaced.

And 73% say they wish their neighborhood had more trees and green spaces.

This green gap is more than just a matter of aesthetics — it’s a marker of health, equity, and resilience. Communities with more trees report better air quality, less mental distress, stronger social connections, and longer life spans.

Trees also help us adapt to rising temperatures. During warmer months, they can reflect up to 90% of the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere. A single tree can cool its surroundings by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit — critical relief in a warming world.

A child receives a reusable bag filled with eco-friendly items from a woman, in front of a Subaru promotional banner about environmental care.

Subaru: Driving Change Where It's Needed Most

In Spring 2025, Subaru and its retailers partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to deliver the largest corporate community tree distribution in the Foundation’s history — 100,000 trees to communities and forests across 49 states.

Designed for direct and lasting impact, this initiative put one-gallon container trees in the hands of local residents in the communities where Subaru retailers live and work to help restore local ecosystems, cool neighborhoods, and bring relief to communities in need of green space.

By helping to close the green gap, Subaru is showing what corporate environmental leadership looks like: hands-on, locally rooted, and built for impact.