Tree project targets economic, social gains From the cover
The details
The big picture
The city of Pugerville received grants to fund the tree-planting initiative by the Ination Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Trees: $87,288 Temporary irrigation: $41,205 Tools: $9,325 Mulch: $4,690 Personal protective equipment: $2,810 Tree delivery: $2,000 Direct mail advertising and yard signs: $2,282
The areas in Pugerville found to be in need of additional tree coverage experience higher temperatures than surrounding neigh- borhoods because the lack of tree canopy creates an urban heat island, Madden said. The city hopes to enhance these spaces most aected with its tree project, providing greater access to the environmental, social and economic benets of tree canopy. Over the course of the program, the city aims to plant 335 trees in the Wind- ermere, Watson Park and Hillside Springs neighborhoods. In November and December, the city held its rst tree planting events as part of this initiative, which resulted in resident volun- teers planting 58 trees. Madden works as the project organizer, and helps coordinate volunteers, tree recipi- ents and the grant allocation process. “We go out a couple days in advance to the sites and meet with the homeowners at their home, and we [prepare] the planting sites for the volunteers,” Madden said. “The
Although Pugerville is located in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion, the area’s relatively at topography dates back to when European settlers deforested the land to make room for agriculture and cattle land, Pugerville Urban Pforester Dave Madden said. In the present day, the east side of the city has 10% tree canopy compared to the west’s 20%. This was an area primarily used for farming, and now is also seeing a boom in recent development, with new trees not yet having had time to mature. While the outer edges of town remain relatively at, Madden used an Environmental Protection Agency mapping tool to identify other areas eligible for environmental justice. Utilizing a grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Madden found that over half the houses in the Windermere, Watson Park and Hillside Springs neighborhoods had either no trees or trees in poor conditions. “The residents might not have the funds to replace those trees,” Madden said. “What we’re going to end up with if we’re not careful is what Austin has right now, where their older neighborhoods are actually getting barren of trees.”
Total: $149,600
SOURCE: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLECOMMUNITY IMPACT
volunteers [on] the day of, they actually put the trees in the ground and set up the irrigation.” There are four types of native trees available through the program: chinkapin oak, cedar elm, pecan or Mexican sycamore.
What else
Neighborhoods targeted for tree program
education outcomes for children, Madden said. In residential areas, the addition of trees can also increase the value of homes. “Any home with large, beautiful, old trees is going to have better curb appeal, and that curb appeal is going to cause anything from the price increase to more buyers wanting to purchase that home,” said LJ Sternberg, a Realtor for the Pugerville-serving LJ Residential.
The benets of trees—environmentally, socially and economically—is extensive, Madden said. Besides reducing surface temperature and purifying the air, trees can help reduce energy consumption and slow water runo erosion. Hospital patients that can see trees from their window need less medication and recover from surgery faster, according to the Texas A&M For- est Service. Access to green spaces also reduces crime rates and violent crimes, and can increase
The city of Pugerville launched an initiative to plant 335 trees in these areas. Half the houses in Windermere, Watson Park and Hillside Springs have either no trees or trees in poor conditions. Tree planting area
The economic bene t of trees to homeowners
Hillside
100 yard trees provide $272,000 in combined savings
Park
Street trees increase average home prices by $7,130
Properties with trees have 7% higher rents
Healthy public trees provide $60 in annual energy savings
Homes near trees sell for 8%-20% higher
N
SOURCE: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLECOMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOURCE: TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICECOMMUNITY IMPACT
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