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Tree Leaves Fight Pollution - ScienceNOW

Tree Leaves Fight Pollution - ScienceNOW:

Missing the green in our deciduous midwest? Soon the leaves will begin their work for us. Ever asked what we do for them?

"Environmental organizations keep reminding us that we need to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases. But plants are already doing their part. Research in Science shows that deciduous tree leaves suck up far more atmospheric pollutants than previously thought."

In the News...

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Plant 7 Trees A Year And You’re Carbon Neutral

"According to carbonfootprint.com it is estimated that the average person needs to save about 7,000 kg of CO2 per year. So planting just 7 trees each year is one strategy for achieving this...
Tree planting is recognised the world over as a practical short-term solution to offsetting carbon dioxide and it’s probably the easiest and most tangible way to offset your carbon emissions. Each tree planted ‘offsets’ your environmental impact by ‘breathing’ in about 1 tonne of CO2 emissions over its lifetime of 100 years."
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Tree study gets to root of diversity, growth link

"Trees do not make good neighbors, at least to their own kind."
Young seedlings tend to die if an adult tree of the same species is nearby. This is one way forests maintain diversity. Now, a group of researchers show that abundant tree species are less susceptible to disease inflicted by soil-borne organisms.

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City Park Facts

The Center for City Park Excellence maintains the nation's most complete database of park facts for the largest 85 U.S. cities.

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Open Space Conservation

"Close to 80 percent of the U.S. population (220 million people) lives in urban areas and depends on the essential ecological, economic, and social benefits provided by urban trees and forests. However, the distribution of urban tree cover and the benefits of urban forests vary across the United States, as do the challenges of sustaining this important resource. As urban areas expand across the country, the importance of the benefits that urban forests provide, as well as the challenges to their conservation and maintenance, will increase. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the current status and benefits of America's urban forests, compare differences in urban forest canopy cover among regions, and discuss challenges facing urban forests and their implications for urban forest management."

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Complete Streets: Streets as Public Space

Streets should be community assets, compatible with built and natural environments, and reflect the balanced needs of the community and transportation networks - part of public spaces, green and attractive.

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