City Trees – Your Guide to Urban Forest Living

Sara Filippi Plotegher

In the beginning, there were forests. Urban greenery is not just decoration or a tool for people — it is alive. Trees should be understood, respected, and protected like any neighbor.

Cartoonist and science communicator Sara Filippi Plotegher explores the roles, needs, and importance of trees in our cities. She shows how humans and plants can live together in a more balanced and supportive way.

Did you know about mycorrhizae, root fungi that form networks connecting trees so they can share resources and help each other? This is why planting trees alone often fails. Or that asphalt prevents soil from breathing and absorbing water? Using permeable materials, raised pavements, or upstream green spaces can solve this. And if you fear a tree might fall on your house, remember that bad pruning is often the bigger danger.

Living in harmony with plants is possible if we listen, understand, and show respect.

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