Urban forestry is simply: trees in places where people live. Every day across the country the public is learning the benefits of planting and protecting trees. For example, did you know that more trees correlates with:
•Lower crime
•Cleaner air
•Energy savings
The latest research from Kathy Wolf focuses on shopping plazas and mini-malls and how trees support the success of retail districts. The study assessed public response to landscape and vegetation of small mall (re)development. A series of past studies indicate consumer behavior is positively affected by the urban forest. Respondents to her survey indicated a preference for landscaped roadsides and a willingness to pay 8.8% more at well landscaped malls.
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According to a report from the National Wildlife Federation, there are many things you can do in the garden that will help combat global warming. Removing invasive plants and choosing an array of native alternatives minimizes the threat of invasive species. Find out what plants are native to your area and encourage local home and garden retailers to carry them. Reduce water consumption by mulching, using rain barrels, watering only in the morning and using drip irrigation. Composting provides excellent nutrients for your garden, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and keeps the waste out of landfills. Planting trees near your home significantly shields your home from the elements, reducing energy use for air conditioning and heating. Shade trees can reduce air conditioning by up to 70%. A single tree can remove up to a ton of carbon dioxide, the gas primarily responsible for global warming, from the atmosphere in it's lifetime.
Resource: Gardeners Can Play an Important Role in Reducing Global Warming
Related Articles: Native Plants, A Word of Caution on Fertilizing Woody Plants Plants Native to Our Region
"A new online resource guide for paper users in the US recommends that buyers should look for the FSC logo. The Environmental Paper Network (EPN) launched WhatsInYourPaper.com to assist and guide consumers and companies to use ‘environmentally superior paper’. EPN is a coalition of environmental organizations joined to support socially and environmentally sustainable transformations within the pulp and paper industry."
Full Article
On Feb 26, 2009 Elgin leaders and citizens traveled to Springfield to encourage state representatives and senators to remember their 'Tree City' for capitol funding from the stimulus bill.
Volunteers delivered 200 Dark Green Arborvitae (Tree of Life), donated by McHenry County Nursery and distributed by DaveyTree, to the desks of legislators.
Trees and shrubs are an important part of any infrastructure planning, but are vital to an environmentally friendly 'Green' infrastructure plan.
For more information on the value 'Green' communities,
see our Street Smart article series.
"ASLA has produced a guide to the best online resources for landscape architecture-related climate change mitigation. The resource guide includes links to web sites focused on sustainable site planning, land-use, open spaces, stormwater management, green roofs, plant selection, and other areas."
Go to the resource guide
"A key way to stimulate the economy is through the creation of a green workforce ... improving and restoring our nation’s landscapes. Rebuilding the green infrastructure as we rebuild the gray infrastructure ... urging our leaders to put economic stimulus package to work where it can do the most good for people and the environment."
The legislation gives government flexibility so they can quickly implement ‘shovel ready’ projects. Restoring the environment will also improve the local economies and the quality of life.
The final bill includes $500 million and should urban forest tree planting projects.
The legislation also includes Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) funding. Cities and counties should "consider shade tree planting as an easy, cost effective way to conserve energy around buildings. As few as three strategically-placed trees around a home can cut air-conditioning costs and energy use by one-half!"
Full Article by Deborah Gangloff - Executive Director of American Forests
Polycarbonate is a material that’s plentiful throughout the green industry, and historically it hasn’t been recycled.
Green-Tek Inc., a plastic coverings fabricator in Edgerton, Wis., has replaced the oriented strand board (OSB) sides of its shipping crates with the used polycarbonate sheets, keeping them out of the landfill. Green-Tek customers can return their old polycarbonate sheets when they purchase new sheets.
Polycarbonate gets new life as crates
