Planting Trees
Planting a tree seems like such a simple thing, but it can have a huge impact on your community, especially if you live in an urban area. Here are just a few of the many things that trees can do:
Combat climate change: One of the primary functions of a tree is to capture carbon dioxide. One single tree can absorb between 10 and 30 pounds or more CO2 per year, and an acre of forest can absorb several tons every year.
Improve air quality: In addition to carbon dioxide, trees absorb other pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, ammonia, ozone, and dust, cleaning the air and reducing rates of asthma and similar diseases.
Improve water quality: Trees reduce storm run-off, preventing pollutants from seeping into groundwater and flowing into the ocean.
Reduce energy consumption: Trees can reduce heating and cooling costs significantly, both for individual homes and buildings and in an entire city, by reducing summer temperatures through shade and evaporative cooling and by providing protection from cold winter winds.
Provide habitats for wildlife: Trees can become homes for many different species of birds, insects, squirrels and other creatures.
Provide food: Many different trees provide edible fruit and nuts that can be used to feed your family or a whole community.
How to get involved
If you own your home, consider planting a few extra trees on your property. Not only will you get all the benefits listed above, but you can also increase the value of your property by as much as 15 percent! For information on what kind of trees to plant and where, check out these tips from the National Forestry Service: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/tree_tips/spring_treetips.pdf
If you are interested in getting trees planted in your community, the Arbor Day Foundation has a wealth of resources for doing so, such as:
Tree City USA: Is your city a tree city? Find out if your city participates in this program, and get involved in planting and maintaining your town's urban forests.
http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/
Tree Campus USA: If you are a college student, find out if your school participates in the tree campus program to get involved in planting and maintaining trees and green spaces at your school. http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCampusUSA/index.cfm
Disaster Recovery Campaigns: Replant trees that have fallen or been damaged after natural disasters.
http://www.arborday.org/takeaction/disasters/trees-for-america.cfm
Other Ways to Help: Find othe ways of getting involved in tree planting efforts in your local community.
http://arbordaynow.org/volunteer.cfm
Combat climate change: One of the primary functions of a tree is to capture carbon dioxide. One single tree can absorb between 10 and 30 pounds or more CO2 per year, and an acre of forest can absorb several tons every year.
Improve air quality: In addition to carbon dioxide, trees absorb other pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, ammonia, ozone, and dust, cleaning the air and reducing rates of asthma and similar diseases.
Improve water quality: Trees reduce storm run-off, preventing pollutants from seeping into groundwater and flowing into the ocean.
Reduce energy consumption: Trees can reduce heating and cooling costs significantly, both for individual homes and buildings and in an entire city, by reducing summer temperatures through shade and evaporative cooling and by providing protection from cold winter winds.
Provide habitats for wildlife: Trees can become homes for many different species of birds, insects, squirrels and other creatures.
Provide food: Many different trees provide edible fruit and nuts that can be used to feed your family or a whole community.
How to get involved
If you own your home, consider planting a few extra trees on your property. Not only will you get all the benefits listed above, but you can also increase the value of your property by as much as 15 percent! For information on what kind of trees to plant and where, check out these tips from the National Forestry Service: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/tree_tips/spring_treetips.pdf
If you are interested in getting trees planted in your community, the Arbor Day Foundation has a wealth of resources for doing so, such as:
Tree City USA: Is your city a tree city? Find out if your city participates in this program, and get involved in planting and maintaining your town's urban forests.
http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/
Tree Campus USA: If you are a college student, find out if your school participates in the tree campus program to get involved in planting and maintaining trees and green spaces at your school. http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCampusUSA/index.cfm
Disaster Recovery Campaigns: Replant trees that have fallen or been damaged after natural disasters.
http://www.arborday.org/takeaction/disasters/trees-for-america.cfm
Other Ways to Help: Find othe ways of getting involved in tree planting efforts in your local community.
http://arbordaynow.org/volunteer.cfm