Better Branches

In addition to creating a natural barrier to dumping, tree planting in urban areas has many documented benefits and over the next few years we will continue to add trees to the landscape. Tree canopy restoration reduces heat island effects in developed areas, improves climate resiliency, sequesters carbon and stormwater, and beautifies neighborhoods. According to our initial analysis using the iTree tool developed by the Arbor Day Foundation, Saginaw’s community-wide canopy has been reduced to approximately half of what a healthy self-sustaining canopy should be in our climate zone. This initiative will help the most vulnerable populations in Saginaw and will benefit everyone in Saginaw over the long term. Quality tree canopy is disproportionately lower in areas with fewer resources, traditionally behind redline boundaries, higher vacant land totals, and a more direct relationship with industrial sites. This issue is known as “tree equity.”

In short, these areas will have less natural defense against harmful changes to our climate, which could accelerate their decline versus areas with more substantial canopies. When we grow trees in these neighborhoods, we help insulate them against the heat island effect and the many detrimental impacts of higher temperatures. This results in fewer energy needs for air conditioning and more sustainable use of existing buildings. Elevating these neighborhoods with better trees means a more active and sustainable region.

Tree canopy recovery can not be achieved on public land alone. This project would build the “tree factory” needed to get new trees planted on private grounds where they are needed most, especially in areas where residents, companies, and nonprofit partners cannot afford to repopulate their land with trees in any other way.