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<DIV class=NewsLink1>The report (below) from Boise shows how important trees are
to a community, well beyond their aesthetic appeal.</DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1>The city of Moscow has created a tree program that supports
this urban forestry That program deserves our continued support</DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1>BL </DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1> </DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1> </DIV>
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<DIV class=NewsLink1>---------------------------------- </DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1> </DIV>
<DIV class=NewsLink1>December 17, 2007
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<DIV class=PressTitle>Forest Service study shows benefits of Boise's "street"
trees<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" valign="top"><IMG style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px"
height=95 alt=streettrees
src="http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/Images/street%20tree.JPG"
width=74 align=left border=0 xmlns:psxi18n="urn:www.percussion.com/i18n">
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Boise public street trees return thousands
of dollars in benefits from storm-water reduction, energy conservation, cleaner
air and increased property values, according to a study completed by the USDA
Forest Service Center for Urban Forest Research. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Nearly 23,500 trees managed by the Boise
Parks & Recreation Community Forestry Unit were evaluated for the study.</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">“The majority of Boise’s street trees are
young and immature, so the benefits should increase as the trees grow,” said Dr.
Greg McPherson, center director. “The city’s forest managers have planned well,”
he said. None of the 179 species represents more than 10 percent of the total
tree population. “This is important because having too many of any one species
puts the forest at risk of suffering catastrophic loss due to disease or pests.”
</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Key findings of the report show that Boise
street trees:</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Reduce electricity consumption. Total
electricity and natural gas saved due to shading and climate modification by the
trees is $331,780 or $14 per tree annually. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Intercept 19.2 million gallons of
rainfall annually, thus reducing storm-water runoff. The average Boise street
tree intercepts about 827 gallons of rainfall each year, worth $4 per tree
annually. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Remove 0.2 pounds of air pollutants per
tree annually, valued at $0.27 per tree or $6,290 citywide. Ozone and nitrogen
dioxide are the most significant pollutants intercepted by Boise street trees.
</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Reduce net annual carbon dioxide by 1.4
tons, worth another $6,060 or $0.26 per tree.</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Increase property values and provide
other less tangible benefits valued at $5.6 million, or $24 per tree on
average.</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Boise's street trees have a replacement
value of $88.3 million -- or $3,794 per tree - reflecting each tree’s value over
their lifetime. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Annual benefits vary by species, largely
due to tree size. The city’s 1,926 silver maples produce the highest total level
of benefits ($90 per tree annually, 17% of total benefits). Norway maples are
the next most valuable species producing 9% of benefits at $36 per tree. Both
species grow to become large trees. However, silver maples cost the city the
most to manage because the species is prone to decay and storm damage. The
majority of Boise's silver maples are nearing the end of their productive lives
and require removal or more intensive care, said Brian Jorgenson, city forester.
</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">“The results of this study support what
many Boiseans already know: that ‘street trees’ are a vital component of the
city infrastructure and they pay us back with 30% interest,” said Jorgenson.
Homeowners can help protect this resource by keeping their street trees watered.
“We are losing street trees because they don’t get any irrigation,” he said. “In
the summer, watering deeply once or twice every week under the crown of the tree
will make a huge difference.” </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Everyone in the city can reap the rewards
of planting large-growing trees to shade their homes, driveways and patios,
Jorgenson said. “But planting a tree is only the first step; we also have to
water, protect, and prune them correctly.” </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">The report also identified several ways in
which trees can help meet Boise's Climate Protection Agreement goals to reduce
greenhouse gases and emissions. Recommendations include developing programs to
significantly increase shade tree planting, set a goal of planting one tree for
every five residents, plant larger-growing shade trees and plan for adequate
care and pruning of trees to reduce mortality rates. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">The study also urges the city to:</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">• Develop a strong young-tree care
program<BR>• Track the success of newly planted trees<BR>• Invest in planned
maintenance of mature trees<BR>• Work with the Ada County Highway District to
develop planting space and tree guidelines<BR>• Implement priorities of the
Forestry Management Plan<BR>• Develop an ordinance that creates shade guidelines
for streets and parking lots to promote tree canopy cover and associated
benefits. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Boise’s Community Forestry unit is
responsible for the preservation, protection and management of 41,000
publicly-owned trees in the City of Boise. Community Forestry also sponsors the
Releaf Boise tree-planting event, free Tree Steward classes and other
educational opportunities. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">In April 2007, the City of Boise was named
a Tree City USA for the 29th consecutive year by the National Arbor Day
Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the National
Association of State Foresters. The award recognizes Boise’s commitment to an
effective and comprehensive community forestry program operated through the
city's Parks & Recreation Department. </P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">For more information about Boise's
Community Forestry unit, call 384-4083 or see <A
href="http://www.cityofboise.org/parks/forestry">www.cityofboise.org/parks/forestry</A>.
</P>
<P xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office"
xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"
xmlns:x="urn:www.microsoft.com/excel">Media contacts:<BR>Brian Jorgenson, City
Forester, 384-4083<BR>Amy Stahl, Community Relations, 384-4060, ext. 304
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