New York City Million Trees Initiative

1. New York City Million Trees Initiative By: Arthur Knapp, Thomas Murray, and Colleen Reynolds

2. Table of Contents • About the campaign • Benefits on the urban environment • Benefits on the cities economy • Negatives

3. About the Campaign • The main goal is to plant a million trees throughout the New York area within the next decade • By achieving this, the city’s “urban forest” will increase by 20% and benefit the city in multiple ways. • The campaigns website can be found here http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/home/home.shtml

4. Environmental Benefits • Increase Carbon sequestration by 15% as the trees grow • Carbon is the most prevalent greenhouse gas and the leading cause of global warming • Sequestering carbon will slow the effects of global warming and help prevent climate change

5. Cooling Benefits of Trees • Shade provided by trees decreases need for air conditioning in building • Less cooling means less electricity and therefore less reliance on burning coal • Less burning of coal helps reduce carbon emissions • By shading buildings and concrete, and providing humidity to the air trees can significantly lower summer temperatures

6. NYC Tree Facts (Current) • 168 species of trees in New York City • Most common tree is the London Planetree (Platanus acerifolia) • Best tree for carbon sequestration in the city is the Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) • If Pin Oak was as prevalent as London Planetree, carbon sequestration would increase significantly

7. Economic Benefits • Urban areas can have areas called “Heat Islands” which are significantly hotter • Trees significantly reduce the temperature and in turn lower overall energy costs • The million trees main website states that New York City’s “street trees provide $27 million a year in energy savings” (milliontreesnyc.org - 2009).

8. Trees cause a positive effect on consumer behavior. • Average prices were 11% higher in establishments that were landscaped compared to those that were not (Wolf - November 1998). • Business offices that are in wooded areas report that workers are more productive and absenteeism are reduced. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

9. Well landscaped property increases its value • Trees and well landscaped areas reduce maintenance costs, water runoff, and energy costs

10. Target areas • Two of the six target areas for the million trees intiative are in the bronx. • Both Hunts Point and Morrisania are targeted because of their low number of street trees, and for having some of the highest levels of asthma in New York City. • Other areas include East New York, Stapleton, East Harlem, and Rockaways.

11. Possible Initiative Improvements • Plant more beneficial trees such as the Pin Oak. • Plant fast growing, shady trees in the hottest areas of the city • Utilize unused areas of the city, such as rooftops and highway medians

12. Dangers for Trees in Urban Areas • One of the things that poses the most danger to trees in urban areas is disease and the introduction of exotic insects. • Two insects, the Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), and the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) pose the greatest danger to New York City Trees. • The Asian Longhorn beetle bores into and kills a large number of hardwood trees. (Norwalk, 2007, p.13) • The Gypsy Moth feeds on leaves of many different tree species causing widespread tree death (Norwalk, 2007, p.13)