Washington, DC (October 10, 2014) — National NeighborWoods® Month is Alliance for Community Trees’ annual campaign to plant and care for trees during the month of October. Each year, tens of thousands of volunteers take action to make their communities greener and healthier by planting trees—turning their neighborhoods into vibrant, livable communities. Over the last decade, more than 170,000 hard-working volunteers have planted over 300,000 trees in all 50 states.
October is a special time for trees. Cooler temperatures, warm tones of orange, red, and yellow, and the smell of fresh mulch mean it’s planting season. This October marks a special 10th anniversary celebration of National NeighborWoods® Month, which provides an opportune moment to highlight how and why educated tree care professionals (as well as the layperson) can get in touch with his or her community through trees. ACTrees members and ISA members play a vital role in maintaining a healthy urban forest. Organizations such as these have online resources for homeowners and professionals who want to care for their own trees. ISA’s Trees Are Good consumer education website (www.TreesAreGood.org) is handy, and the ANSI A300 Standard, for professionals, is invaluable.
Tree Davis and the City of Davis, California, joined local volunteers to green a Central Davis neighborhood
during National NeighborWoods Month.
ISA Certified Arborists can provide first-hand experience and knowledge to homeowners and volunteers, ensuring the survivability of newly planted trees. During this national call to action, share your expertise with the friends, neighbors, and community members who are volunteering to give back to one of our most valuable resources—the urban forest. Here are 10 reasons to celebrate arboriculture this October
1. Local efforts get help with free resources.
ACTrees is excited to support local efforts to grow greener, healthier communities. Free online resources are available, including a step-by-step planning guide to help organize a successful tree-planting event. Interested parties can also receive free gear, including banners, shirts, posters and tools to enhance their greening events and to increase awareness. Whether you’re organizing a planting or want to volunteer locally, make sure your good work is part of this national celebration by registering your event here.
2. ACTrees and ISA members are powerful partners.
ACTrees members are local greening nonprofits, municipalities, and citizen action groups who care for their community trees. These organizations have fostered relationships with diverse community stakeholders, such as schools, neighborhood groups, faith communities, universities, chambers of commerce, and more. ISA members, working together with ACTrees member organizations, can maximize public awareness about the important work arborists do to protect and sustain our urban forests.
ISA and ACTrees members have a shared goal of promoting local tree planting and care. Together, we can empower communities to participate in early tree pest and disease detection, teach youth about the benefits of trees, and educate citizens on how to care for trees and when it’s appropriate to contact a certified arborist. Find an ACTrees member organization near you.
3. Trees are restorative and a way to give back.
Urban trees provide us with shaded spaces of respite from the stresses of life. For military personnel, returning to civilian life can be a difficult transition. ACTrees member Goleta Valley Beautiful created the Trees for Veterans Project to give back to those who are returning from duty. The group gave fruit and shade trees to 62 veterans in Santa Barbara, CA, and also planted trees in public areas that provide services to veterans. Certified arborists were on hand throughout the project to help veterans choose the right tree for their home.
4. Trees create resilient communities in the wake of climate change.
It’s hard to forget the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The effects of climate change exacerbated the flooding and damage of the storm. Point Pleasant Beach, a New Jersey beachfront community, was devastated. Nearly one year after the storm, TD, ACTrees, the New Jersey Tree Foundation, and local volunteers partnered to plant 80 new street trees. These trees are a symbol of hope and reinvestment to local residents on their way to restoring their community.
5. Trees inspire youth to be the next generation of environmental stewards.
Tampa, Florida arborist Joe Gross teaches youth how to plant a tree.
Engaging youth is crucial to the development and expansion of the urban forestry field. As we look to the future, professional partnerships are integral to preparing the next generation of environmental stewards.
Through the ACTrees Youth Tree Stewards grant, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa to plant 10 fruit trees. KTBB Board Member and ISA certified arborist Joe Gross taught proper planting techniques and encouraged the youth to continue to plant trees even after Earth Day. The enthusiasm was contagious as one group of kids that finished planting their tree first and immediately ran over to help another group nearby.
6. Trees and green infrastructure support stormwater runoff management.
Excess stormwater runoff due to impervious surfaces is a common problem in urban areas. ACTrees member TreePeople has implemented creative ways to deal with stormwater runoff issues in Los Angeles, California.
TreePeople and a committed group of parents and volunteers turned 4000 ft2 (371.61 m2) of asphalt at Main Street School into a natural habitat and outdoor learning space they named “The Urban Forest.” This revitalized area features a grove of native trees and drought-tolerant plants that will harvest rainwater and prevent runoff while teaching students about the water cycle.
7. Healthy trees make healthy communities.
Beyond shading our homes and making our neighborhoods more beautiful, trees are essential for our well-being. Trees and greenspace lower cortisol, the key stress hormone, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and support heart health.
When we lose trees, we also lessen the capacity for cities to manage human health. Recent US Forest Service research suggests that the widespread death of ash trees from the emerald ash borer correlates with an increase in deaths related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness. These results are consistent with previous research that identified a correlation between the natural environment and health. It’s now more important than ever to plant trees in communities.
8. Fruit and nut trees can be a source of local, nutritious food.
Sustainability and sustenance are now synonymous with good food. With the rise of the “farm to table” movement, people are turning to fruit and nut trees as a source of local, nutritious food.
In 2012, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) partnered with Weavers Way Cooperative Farm and Saul Agricultural High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to plant a fruit orchard. Through ACTrees’ Community Groves℠ grant, PHS, faculty, and students planted fruit trees including Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia), Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), and Dwarf Plum (Prunus spp.) on the school’s campus. With a fully functional farm on campus, the school was excited to incorporate the orchard as a learning tool and source of fresh food for the students.
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Weavers Way Co-op, and students at Saul Agricultural High School care for a fruit orchard year-round in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
9. Trees bring families and co-workers together.
Francis Scott Key School in Baltimore, Maryland, struggled to maintain greenspace when their trees were vandalized and did not survive. In 2012, local CSX employees joined ACTrees, Parks & People Foundation, and City Year to plant 100 large caliper trees to establish shaded greenspace for the students. CSX volunteers also painted two murals, built a planter bench, and planted trees at a nearby playground to cap off a great day of service. The trees continue to thrive to this day because the school and local neighbors are invested in watering and caring for them.
New Jersey Tree Foundation and TD employees plant trees in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
10. Trees need people to care for them.
Community trees can provide many benefits, but have to deal with severe urban conditions to survive. To ensure successful establishment, municipalities often set parameters for who can maintain public trees and partner with nonprofits to encourage safe pruning practices. With proper training and oversight by certified arborists, volunteer tree maintenance can help municipal and nonprofit tree professionals manage the growth and health of the urban forest.
National NeighborWoods® Month brings communities across the country together to plant and care for trees. These initiatives build civic pride, grow volunteer activism, and transform cities and towns. ISA Certified Arborists are leaders in these greening efforts and key to helping train the tens of thousands of volunteers needed to sustain a healthy urban forest.
Be part of the special 10th year of National NeighborWoods® Month. Register all of your October tree-related events including plantings, maintenance and care, giveaways, invasive removals, and educational events or volunteering at an event near you.
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This article was featured in the October 2014 issue of Arborist News, a bimonthly International Society of Arboriculture magazine, providing the latest in arboricultural news and education. This magazine is an ISA member benefit with an average circulation of nearly 22,000. Each issue also offers opportunities for ISA credential holders to earn CEUs. Learn more.