By Susan McGrath
The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972 to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the first Arbor Day.
Since that time the foundation has been responsible for planting more than 20 million trees in partnership with the National Forest Service.
More than 135,000,000 people in the United States, living in more than 3,400 towns and cities have benefited from the Urban Forest Management Program, by the Tree City USA community program.
Why such an effort for trees?
In a study released by the USDA Forest Service it was found that:
Trees help purify the air we breathe.
Trees increase property values.
Trees attract businesses, shoppers, and homeowners to a neighborhood.
Trees cool towns by reducing heat produced by buildings and pavements.
Tree shade can save an average household $250 in energy costs in one year.
The net energy effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
Trees reduce pollutants in our sewer systems, saving communities millions of dollars in treatment costs.
Trees reduce the amount of water-born pollutants that could reach our rivers and streams.
In a recent Forest Service study, a small 9-year-old tree was able to intercept 58 gallons of water in a ½-inch rain event. That’s 58 gallons that did not run right into a nearby river!
A mature evergreen can intercept more than 4,000 gallons of water in a year.
Hospital patients who had tree views outside their windows recovered from surgery needing fewer pain relievers, had fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than those who viewed a brick wall.
Studies have concluded that trees in neighborhoods reduce domestic violence and foster safer, more social neighborhood environments.
Planting or caring for a tree in our city is a community contribution, which can be enjoyed by all those who live in Lambertville.
Consider planting a tree for Arbor Day and enhance our city’s beauty, temperature regulation, pollution reduction, flood mitigation, property values, and community pride. The Arbor Day Foundation will send 10 free flowering trees to those who join the organization. You can find information at arborday.org.
NEED HELP? The Lambertville Shade Tree Commission is available for anyone seeking advice regarding selection of and/or care needed for street trees in our city. As reminder for everyone living in the city of Lambertville, each resident needs permission to cut or prune street trees.
Please call the city office at 397-0110 for referrals to the commission regarding any issue involving street trees.
Susan McGrath is a member of Lambertville’s Shade Tree Commission.

