By: Darlene Cherney, Margie Dressler and Donna Eoff are Cibola-McKinley County Master Gardeners and graduates of the Tree Steward Program
When most of us dream of the perfect town or city, we envision towering trees with massive, outstretched branches providing dappled shade along the streets and in yards. We imagine sidewalks lined with flowering dogwoods, cherries, and crabapples. We think of people out walking, jogging, playing, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors. Birds, squirrels, and other animals will also grace the natural scene. Unfortunately, for most of our towns and cities, reality is asphalt and concrete, pollutionstained buildings, smog, assorted trash and graffiti. Trees provide benefits that far exceed the costs of planting and care over their lifetime. The advantages of having trees are numerous and seemingly ever-growing. They aren’t just nice to have, trees are critical to our environment, health and economy. Properly cared for, they are valuable assets worth three times your initial investment.
Trees and Our Environment
Trees help improve the environment in a multitude of ways! They remove pollution from the air and soil, making our environment cleaner. Trees can buffer air pollution by catching pollutants and preventing their spread to nearby areas. Leaves capture particulates from the air, making it cleaner. 100 large, mature trees can remove 31 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants per year. The same 100 trees can catch about 124,000 gallons of rainwater per year, absorbing storm water which reduces runoff and flooding during storms.
It can be up to 25 degrees F cooler under the shade of a tree! Trees help reduce the urban heat island effect (hotter temperatures in downtown areas caused by concrete, asphalt, and other built surfaces). Trees cool the area around them in two ways: by shading surfaces and through evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is the process by which trees release water through their leaves (transpire) and the water then evaporates. Evaporation requires energy to occur, which makes it a cooling process. The result is that as the water evaporates it dissipates the heat in and around the tree and cools the air in the area encompassing the tree. In this way, trees act like nature’s air conditioners!
Three main components of wildlife habitat: food, cover, and places to raise young, can all be provided by trees. Wherever trees are established, wildlife and other plants are sure to follow, ensuring a healthier and more biodiverse ecosystem.
Trees Provide Social and Health Benefits
Trees and parks can facilitate a greater sense of community, bringing more unity and support to neighborhoods. Whether it’s outside in the yard, a park or a tree lined street, being around trees has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Even just looking at trees and nature through a window has shown to be calming and to improve overall well-being. Treefilled neighborhoods have lower levels of crime, domestic violence and are more sociable.
Incidents of heat related injury are lower in areas with greater canopy coverage. Trees are associated with a decrease in risk for heart disease and skin cancer. People are more likely to exercise with trees or parks nearby, which decreases health risks. Acting as a noise barrier, trees can reduce stress or restlessness associated with excessive noise from nearby traffic, construction, and industrial facilities.
Trees can enhance a community’s sense of pride and ownership. Active involvement in tree planting programs leads to a stronger sense of community, environmental responsibility and ethics.
Economic Benefits of Trees
Enriching the environment with well-placed trees can boost property values, reduce energy costs through natural cooling, and even increase economic development and tourism in cities known for their green spaces. Shade from wellplaced trees cools structures, which can save up to 56% on annual air conditioning costs in buildings. They act as wind breaks and when strategically planted, reduce heating costs in winter. Evergreens that block winter winds can reduce damage from storms as well as save 3 percent on heating costs.