I have been lucky to have traveled to many interesting places in my arboricultural career. The most intriguing was two years spent in Senegal, West Africa, as a Peace Corps Volunteer focusing on agro-forestry. I also spent a year in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, as the coordinator for their Urban and Community Forestry Program…many people ask why I left St. Croix, funny no-one asks why I left Senegal. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, (yes, I am a cheesehead!) I spent a summer in Europe in order to study how countries like Germany and Poland dealt with various environmental issues.

You may be thinking, "Hey, that's great Chris but what's the point?"

Well, my point is this: although the places I have mentioned are vastly different I have noticed some similarities that can be applied to our community.

Whether we like to think it or not, being this close to DC and the surrounding expansion, we live in an urban setting. Urban Forestry is defined as: The cultivation and management of trees and forests for their present and potential contributions to the physiological, sociological, and economic well being of urban society. However, there are two problems: what is sociologically and economically best for the community is rarely best for the environment itself, and the benefits of trees are received without realizing the effort involved in keeping them around.

There are numerous people who enjoy green spaces, trees, etc. for various reasons, yet most see it as an endless resource not to worry about. In Senegal, tree removal was necessary for cooking and building, here it is builders clearing land for the latest luxury housing complex. In each situation it is necessary to find a motivation to get people involved in keeping their community environmentally sound. Taking action doesn't have to mean a political protest, but can take the form of joining your local tree committee, master gardener association, or taking an arboricultural class. The more you know and pass on to others the better.

In general I have found people buy into the benefits of trees within urban settings. Cooler temperatures are one we all enjoy in the middle of summer as un-vegetated areas can be 6-8 degrees warmer. This feat is accomplished by evapotranspiration, where wind and the moisture emitted from leaves produces a cooling effect…kind of like the misting-fans you see on the Redskins sidelines. One mature healthy tree can emit 40 gallons per day, equal to removing the heat produced in 4 hours by a space heater. Here are some other benefits:

• Healthier Air -reduction of airborne pollutants
• Storm Water Runoff-reduced by canopy and roots
• Psychological- people are more productive when they can see "green" from office windows or have the opportunity to spend break time in a park
• Energy Efficiency-home/business
• Property Values-increase with well kept landscapes.

Taking action can also be something more simple like planting the right tree in the right spot, following sound pruning and landscaping practices, or supporting companies like The Care of Trees that can assist design/build firms on tree preservation techniques before construction starts. Setting up a consultation with a certified arborist will not only help you identify ways in which you can get involved, but it will help you better manage your property, landscape materials and experience the benefits I mentioned above. Take advantage of this resource, we are here to help.

What is important is that you realize what is happening throughout the area in which you live and take initiative to do something positive about it, don't say "oh there are plenty of trees" or "there is really nothing I can do." There is a lot you can do and every action helps so please get involved in your community and I want to thank those of you who already do.