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April 25, 2008

Creating a greater canopy of urban trees

There are about 25,000 trees in Providence, creating a canopy covering about 23 percent of the city.

But as the state marks the annual Arbor Day, Mayor David N. Cicilline and Acting Parks Superintendent Robert McMahon announced a plan to add about 40,000 trees to the city, increasing that canopy to 30 percent.

“We know that the quality of life in our neighborhoods is inextricably linked to the health of our natural environment,” Cicilline said today at a tree-planting in the Elmhurst neighborhood.

“The State of Providence’s Urban Forests report provides valuable information that will help guide our efforts to create greener, more vibrant neighborhoods by setting reasonable goals to increase our tree canopy.”

The report outlines a plan to add trees to public as well as private spaces, including which neighborhoods to target for intense tree planting. Download a copy of the report here.

An increased tree canopy has a variety of benefits, aside from aesthetics. Trees mitigate particulate pollution; lower temperatures in the summer; stabilize soil, and slow polluted runoff from dumping into the Bay. Visit the city’s Department of Forestry to learn more about urban forests. http://forestry.providenceri.com/forestry/urban.php

Click below for more Arbor Day events across the state.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 12:36 PM | Permalink

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