DAVID MATTHAU / WHYY – Efforts are advancing to help protect and beautify a growing number of New Jersey’s urban areas.

Lack of tree coverage in inner city neighborhoods exacerbates the heat island effect, which can turn deadly in summer months. New Jersey’s annual “State of the Climate Report,” released earlier this year, warns the increased temperatures from global warming could cause more heat-related hospitalizations and deaths, especially in urban areas like Trenton, Camden and Newark. EPA research shows boosting urban forests can lower average temperatures by 2.9° F …