Human health linked directly to forest health

“Our research confirms what we know instinctively: Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the planet,” says Chris Elliot, WWF’s Executive Director of Conservation.
“Deforestation is a double blow to human health,” says Elliot. “It increases the spread of certain diseases while destroying plants and animals that may hold the key to treating illnesses that plague millions of people.”

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Rewilding: A Model for Sustainable Conservation

While climate change gets most of the ink in environmental news sections, biodiversity is at a “point of no return”... If ecosystems fail, their ability to sequester carbon or provide flood control diminishes. These ecosystems then also fail to provide the habitat necessary to preserve diverse species that rely on complex interactions with one another to survive.
One possible solution is “rewilding,” a model that can be implemented piecemeal across landscapes to promote the reconnection of isolated habitats, form bridging corridors that help revive complex natural systems, and reintroduce predators. The approach is designed to restore biodiversity in places where it has been lost.

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The jobs are in the trees

With Congress and the White House considering spending scarce dollars to jump-start employment, they'll need to get the biggest jobs bang for the buck to give Americans confidence that they're spending our money wisely. Probably the biggest jobs generator of all, and one of the least recognized, is investing in forest and land restoration and sustainable management, with conservation, watershed projects, and park investment coming close behind.
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Funding for community-based greening in cities

"Sen. Bob Casey introduced the companion bill to Rep. Allyson Schwartz's Green Communities Act (H.R. 2222). As cities across the United States are looking for new effective, low cost strategies that will grow their economies, the implementation of green infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to improve quality of life, attract new business, and improve the general environment.

The bill authorizes $120 million in funding for community-based greening in cities. ACT member organization Pennsylvania Horticulture Society hosted a field hearing on the legislation and is a leading advocate for the program, which would be authorized by the Secretary of Commerce and delivered through the Economic Development Administration. Urban forestry and volunteer-based action are prominently featured in the legislation."

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Take Action to Save USFS Urban Forestry Programs

"The Alliance for Community Trees is joining together with 15 national organizations to support a strengthening of the U.S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Program (U&CF) in the President's FY 2011 federal budget.
This year, we hope that many state, regional, and local organizations and city mayors will help carry this advocacy message to their federal elected officials. Your support strengthens the case for preserving the Urban and Community Forestry Program and improving the program's ability to assist communities of all sizes, nationwide."

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Trees speed the sale of a home

"Studies conducted around the country confirm this, but any realtor will tell you that trees can increase the value of a home. In fact, property values of homes with trees in the landscape are 5-20% higher than equivalent properties without trees and just adding a few trees can increase the sales price of homes by 1% and speed the sale of a home by four to six weeks.
Adding trees in just 4,000 yards could increase homes sales by a combined estimated $10.4 million."

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Biodiversity loss can increase infectious diseases in humans

The extinction of plant and animal species and their habitats may not just make the world boring. New research now suggests it may also put you at greater risk for catching some nasty disease.
"Habitat destruction and biodiversity loss," -- driven by the replacement of local species by exotic ones, deforestation, global transportation, encroaching cities, and other environmental changes -- "can increase the incidence and distribution of infectious diseases in humans," write University of Vermont biologist Joe Roman, EPA scientist Montira Pongsiri, and seven co-authors in BioScience.

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Sustainable Residential Design: Increasing Energy Efficiency

Residential and commercial buildings use ten percent of U.S. energy.
Sustainable residential landscape architecture can dramatically reduce energy costs over the long term while creating a healthy residential environment.
The energy efficiency benefits of sustainable landscape architecture practices, including age-old practices like tree siting for shading, can be further leveraged through the use of clean energy technologies, like solar power.

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