Planting Trees
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses. Not only do trees help you save energy, but they increase property value and are crucial to a healthy environment.
Through the natural process of photosynthesis, trees absorb CO2 and other pollutant particulates, then store the carbon and emit pure oxygen. About half of a tree’s dry weight is composed of carbon, which trees extract from the atmosphere as they grow. And according to research led by scientists at the Nature Conservancy, planting more trees in suitable urban areas could remove another 70 million tons of carbon pollution per year, enough to offset the carbon pollution from 15 million cars.
Urban trees are a critical asset to cities. Trees reduce energy usage, remove air pollutants, help filter stormwater, and cool hot city streets by providing shade and releasing water vapor. Trees could also help cool cities while reducing life-threatening air pollution and offering many other co-benefits for individuals and communities.
A growing body of evidence links exposure to trees with reduced rates of mortality, cardiovascular disease, stress, and depression. Living in greener urban areas is associated with higher levels of happiness, cognitive development, and learning outcomes. These benefits are related to a decrease in exposure to air pollution, noise, and heat, increased contact with nature, and strengthened social cohesion.
Stefan Al: What happens if you cut down all of a city's trees? | TED Talk
Shubhendu Sharma: How to grow a forest in your backyard | TED Talk
To learn more about the benefits of urban trees, we’ve collected our favorite resources below.
Vibrant City LabsVibrant Cities Lab houses various resources about urban forestry and the benefits urban trees provide. You can access case studies, research articles, and different guides to name a few of the resources.
Arbor Day Foundation: Benefits of TreesLearn more about the various benefits of trees in urban environments, such as fighting climate change and saving energy.
American Forests: Tree Equity in America’s CitiesUse this resource to learn more about Tree Equity is why it is so important to create in all cities, including Boston.
NeighborWoods is a program from Speak for the Trees, Boston. We will plant a tree in your yard to reduce the heat island effect and add beauty to your home. Our initiative is neighborhood specific and is primarily intended to help increase the tree canopy in Boston’s environmental justice communities.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://masstreewardens.org/wp-content/uploads/Tree-Planting-101.pdf
https://blogs.cornell.edu/urbanhort/outreach/videos-and-webinars/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4371
https://environment.yale.edu/research/centers/carbon-containment-lab
https://environment.yale.edu/forest-school
How to get unlimited shade trees for FREE (therealfarmhouse.com)
Tree Giveaways (sanantonio.gov)
san_antonio_urban_agriculture_-_2023.pdf (stanford.edu)
https://www.ted.com/talks/carolyn_beans_does_planting_trees_actually_cool_the_planet
Clone any branch of a tree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzhTv5bVS0M
Clone peach, plum and nectarine trees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edMZgwxaWxg
Clone Grape Vines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMfqYNp4854
Grow roses from a bud + short stem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wnQMAcd6w