Why We Love Trees
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Why Plant Trees? Collective Efforts at Tree-planting The Seed The Future of Our Trees Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Sustainable Landscapes for Healthy Homes & Communities Fall 2014 Why We Love Trees Justin Evertson, Green Infrastructure and they’re amazing in all their differing Coordinator shapes, colors and textures. Who doesn’t like the majestic grandeur of an old bur It doesn’t take a genius to understand oak, or the bright orange hues of a fall- why people who live in the middle of the colored sugar maple, or the peeling bark country hold trees in high regard. Simply of a river birch, or the ancient mystery of put, they make our existence here so much a ginkgo or the rugged adaptability of a more comfortable. Let’s face it, the Great hackberry. Even the often-cursed redcedar Plains climate can be brutal and trees do is an incredible tree with age and in the so much good protecting us from extreme right context. heat, bitter cold and frequent high winds. Most often our love for trees likely Even prairie-loving people who lament rests in something very personal to each the encroachment of trees into native one of us. Through trees we carry strong grasslands and sometimes suggest that memories and emotional ties to people, trees don’t belong here, almost certainly places and events. We love trees like we desire trees around their own homes and love our friends and family. For many of Planting it forward in Waverly. in their communities. There are curmud- us they are friends and family. Unfortu- geons of course, so there may actually be nately, modern living has tied us more and a few people who genuinely don’t like more to an indoor existence and moved INSIDE trees. They probably don’t like puppies or us further away from the natural connec- Why Plant Trees? 2 sunshine either. Ultimately this issue of tions that used to be so important to our Trees We Love 4 The Seed isn’t for them, but rather for the survival. Increasing Tree Diversity 6 vast majority of us who really like trees. “Survivor” Street Tree Style 7 This issue of The Seed takes a closer Community Grant Projects 8 It’s not just those of us in the middle look at why trees are so important to us, of the country that love trees. Humans What Our Forests Teach Us 9 discusses some of the challenges we face in ReTree Nebraska 10 in general seem to have a natural affinity keeping trees healthy and suggests reasons for trees. Some scientists speculate that Trees through the Year 12 why we should work even harder at keeping Looking ahead 14 since our species evolved with trees, often them in our lives. Any love affair takes work utilizing them for food and protection, our Tree-planting for Success 15 to keep the fires burning for the long haul. New Trees for the Great Plains 16 affinity for them is likely programmed We hope this publication helps stoke the into our DNA. There is probably some Mistakes of Tree-planting 17 flames a bit for our love of trees. Misinformation on EAB 18 truth to that, but there are many other NET Funding Important 18 reasons that we love trees: they protect us A Few Trees 20 from the wind, they give us shade, they The Importance of Wildness 21 help conserve energy, they attract beauti- Native Populations 22 ful birds, they give us food and lumber, Regionally Native Trees 23 they make our communities more viable, Why plant trees? Trees are restorative for all ages and in almost every setting. Even just having trees visible through a window helps reduce fatigue and stress: A study of children with attention deficit disorders found that the effect of a walk through a park is equal to peak dosages of two typical medications for ADHD. They create a sense of place, serving as both public and private landmarks and memory-markers. People are more likely to spend time outdoors for exercise, relaxation and restoration in areas with trees: Residents of areas with lots of nearby greenspace were three times as likely to be physically active and 40 percent less likely to be overweight or obese than residents in less green settings. Some trees offer edible fruits for humans, as well as much of the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts many wildlife species need to survive. Trees can block undesirable views and create smaller, more intimate outdoor spaces. Shade from trees reduces ultra-violet rays by about 50 percent, and thereby the risk of skin cancer: It takes 20 minutes to get a sunburn standing in direct sunlight; under a tree with 50 percent coverage, 50 minutes; and under full shade, 100 minutes. Trees reduce the incidence of violence and also the fear of it: Public housing residents with nearby trees and natural landscapes reported 25 percent fewer acts of domestic aggression and violence. They provide year-round beauty (see pages 12-13). * Many of these statistics were taken from “Benefits of Trees and Urban Forests: A Research List.” Statistics and footnotes at: www.actrees.org/files/Research/benefits_of_trees.pdf 2 Trees save energy in both cold and hot weather by reducing winds and providing shade and shelter: Carefully-placed trees can reduce the need for air conditioning by 30 percent or more. Simply shading an air conditioning unit can increase its efficiency by 10 percent. The cost of repaving is reduced as much as 60 percent in areas shaded by trees. Wood for mulch and for lumber: Mulch can be readily chipped and utilized on-site with the right equipment and, in Nebraska, forestry and logging sales total more than $3 million in business annually. Reduce the need for costly and expanded stormwater systems: Urban forests can reduce annual stormwater runoff by up to 7 percent, and a mature tree can store 50-500 gallons of water during large storms. Trees can greatly increase property values: Residential properties with trees and vegetation can increase real estate values by as much as 37 percent. In business districts, trees increase sales, desirability and property and rental value: Shoppers travel further to visit a district with trees, spend more time there once they arrive 45 and spend 9 to 12 percent more for products. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen: One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and releases four tons of oxygen, enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. Trees reduce noise, air and water pollution by reducing and filter- ing noise, air particles and rainwater through their leaves and roots: Planting “noise buffers” of trees and shrubs can reduce noise by half, and particularly high frequency noise, which is the most distressing to humans. They filter polluted runoff from parking lots and hard surfaces: Urban forests can reduce annual stormwater runoff by 2–7 percent, thereby safeguarding soil and water quality. Trees help prevent soil erosion on slopes by slowing the reate of runoff and holding soil in place. 3 Trees We Love... and Why “Ponderosa pine will grow on a rocky out- cropping in poor soil in the Wildcat Hills or tower above a stream among ripar- ian plants in northern Sioux County. It’s well-adapted to the high plains, tolerating intense heat in the summer, frequent hail and wind and drought, and in winter it endures extreme cold temperatures, wind and heavy snows with little complaint. It’s “I like trees because they keep things “Thank goodness for hackberry. It grows useful for rural and urban areas, wind- cool.” John Lauber, Brownville well across the state doing great service breaks, screening, shade and habitat.” casting shade, softening winds, feeding Amy Seiler, Scottsbluff birds and generally tolerating a part of the “I like trees because they provide an world that is hard on trees. Many streets income to support my family. So money in central and western Nebraska com- “I look up to trees; they have their heads really does grow on trees!” munities have been green for generations in the clouds, but remain footed in the Jeremy Koch, Cozad because of hackberry.” earth.” Richard Sutton, Lincoln Justin Evertson, Waverly “I like trees because... 1. My parents couldn’t even come close to climbing to the top of the sugar maple in our front yard in Iowa—and I could. Perfect escape. 2. I love birds (except for the ones that poop on my car and patio furniture) and my birds love my trees. 3. Two little boys grew up swinging in them, climbing them, building tree houses in them (with the help of their dad): which “I especially like cottonwood trees out means THEIR two little boys will likely in the country; in the heat of a prairie “I never met an arborist I didn’t like or a do the same, and that means more trees summer, nothing beats the shade of an old tree I didn’t want to hug.” for more generations.” Kim Todd, Lincoln cottonwood.” Lucinda Mays Kem Cavanah, Schuyler “I like trees for the feeling of comfort they “For Nebraska, the large, spreading “A friend and I realized we always liked bring.” Todd Faller, York and enduring bur oak epitomizes to me trees but never really appreciated them the toughness and beauty of life in the until we knew Harlan Hamernik. I would Plains.” Scott Josiah, Lincoln say I love trees because some can be so “I like trees because they soften all land- majestic and yet some are small and just scapes, and provide habitat for wildlife.