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Learn about the Million Trees Initiative in New York City aiming to plant a million trees to enhance the urban environment and economy. Explore environmental benefits, economic advantages, target areas, and potential improvements. Discover how trees reduce energy costs, combat global warming by sequestering carbon, and improve consumer behavior. Uncover facts about NYC trees, the economic impact of landscaping, and the campaign's impact on reducing urban heat islands. Understand the dangers trees face in urban environments and how you can support this green initiative.
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New York City Million Trees Initiative By: Arthur Knapp, Thomas Murray, and Colleen Reynolds
Table of Contents • About the campaign • Benefits on the urban environment • Benefits on the cities economy • Negatives
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
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
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
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
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).
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)
Well landscaped property increases its value • Trees and well landscaped areas reduce maintenance costs, water runoff, and energy costs
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.
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
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)
