Natural Awakenings Twin Cities April 2021

eco tip
The Benefits of Planting Trees
More Foliage Means Lower Temperatures
Planting more trees can slow down climate change. Science magazine reports,
“The restoration of trees remains among the most effective strategies for
climate change mitigation.” The Arbor Day celebrations this month make it an
apt time for taking actions that benefit both urban areas and open spaces.
More than 166,000 square miles of forest habitat—approximately the size
of California—in the tropics and subtropics have been decimated in the last
13 years, and about 2.7 million square miles of forest worldwide remain
threatened, according to a recent study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Some major ways to take action include:
Avoid buying products linked to deforestation.
Pressure lawmakers to make supply chains sustainable while
balancing the need for regulation with the concerns of farmers
and businesses. Urge policymakers to enact zero-deforestation
policies and bolster the rights and control of forests for local
communities and indigenous people, says the WWF.
Donate spare change. By joining Plant Your Change for All
(PlantYourChange.com), all debit or credit card purchases
are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and the
balance applied toward planting trees. Working together
with the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) (ArborDay.org)
and Eden Reforestation Projects, the initiative has already
planted more than 3 million trees, offsetting 5 million miles of
vehicle carbon emissions.
Become a member of the ADF and receive 10 free trees, along with tree
nursery discounts; help to qualify a community to receive the Tree City USA
designation; or get involved with National Arbor Day, generally celebrated
on the last Friday in April, but observed on different days in some states. The
organization’s website includes ideas for conducting virtual celebrations
if local chapters are not holding public events due to the pandemic. Also
consider participating in other ADF programs such as the Alliance for
Community Trees and NeighborWoods Month.
Support the planting of city trees.
According to a recent study from
the U.S. Forest Service reported
in Treehugger.com, the nation’s
urban canopies, currently home
to approximately 5.5 billion trees,
provide roughly $18 billion in annual
benefits via the removal of pollution
from the air, carbon sequestration,
reduced emissions and improved
energy efficiency in buildings.
thanamatAdobestock.com
12 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com