Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood — The Daily Globe reached out to Deborah McCullough, Michigan State researcher, regarding the benefits of urban trees, after the DTE Energy Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan announced a $70, 110 award to 29 different organizations for the planting of 750 trees along community streets, parks, and other public spaces. According to a DNR press release the tree-planting program is a long-standing commitment to the improvement of communities and local environments throughout the state.
Kevin Sayers, DNR urban and community forestry program coordinator said, “These trees will help improve community quality of life in the environment through beautification, cleaning the air, increasing tree canopy for shade, and increased habitat for wildlife.”
McCullough backed up Sayers statement by saying, “There is a whole body of scientific research related to the value of urban trees, which includes street trees. Little kids learn better and patients in hospitals recover faster if they can see a tree from their room.” Not only that, McCullough said, “Crime is lower in neighborhoods with trees when all factors are taken into consideration.”
Beyond the direct impact on human health derived from the presence of urban trees, McCullough said trees improve storm water capture, air pollutant capture, reduced heating and cooling costs, and increased property values. McCullough said there is a software suite called i-Tree that city foresters can use to estimate the economic values associated with trees of different size and species and, “the values can be quite impressive.”
McCullough said the economic cost of protecting urban trees and replacing urban trees that die for whatever reason are small compared to the ecological services the trees provide to their community, especially when those trees can live a very long time and spread the initial cost of purchase and planting over the span of decades.
Communities interested in coordinating local volunteer-tree planting or educational events are encouraged to contact ReLeaf Michigan at 1-800-642-7363 or by visiting releafmichigan.org.
