To Garden Club Members and All Niguel Shores: Are you concerned about global warming? Well here are some statistics that might interest you taken from a gardener’s (name with- held) research. (Editor’s Note: H’mmm. Who could that be?)
Trees and Climate:
■ Trees help fight climate change. Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is building up in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
■ Trees absorb CO2, locking it away in their timber, and they release oxygen back into the air.
■ Trees cool our cities and can, on average, cool an urban area by 4 degrees F.
Want more benefits trees provide?
■ Trees prevent flooding. They intercept rainwater and help absorb surface runoff.
■ Trees make us feel good and help speed recovery from illness. Patients with a tree view have shorter post-oper- ative hospital stays on average.
■ Trees bring life, color and character to our towns and cities.
■ Trees provide a home for wildlife. Oak trees have 2,300 species associated with them.
■ Office workers are more productive when they can see trees or plants from their office windows.
So now are you ready to plant a tree?
For Garden Club members, we always have a break from club activities in August. For Niguel Shores residents, I admit it. I wrote the above for everyone’s benefit.
—Karl Kuhn
If you are interested in planting a tree for a cause, here is a list of organizations recommended by the U.S. National Forest Service.
■ National Forest Foundation plants one tree for every dollar you give.
■ American Forests has many ways to help plant trees.
The Arbor Day Foundation has several tree planting programs.
■ One Tree Planted helps plant trees across the U.S. and globally.
■ Forest Service Plant-A-Tree helps to
reforest public lands while honoring someone you know.
■ National Wildlife and Fish Foundation works with the Forest Service to conserve forested lands through stewardship and watershed restoration programs.
■ Penny Pines Plantation is a partnership with National Garden Clubs to help sustain national forests and pro- vide education.
■ Living Memorials Project helps to create living, last- ing memorials to the victims of the Sept. 11, their fami- lies, communities and nation.
—Karl Kuhn
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