Feds spread $1 billion for tree plantings among US cities to reduce extreme heat and benefit health

Hundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit health and improve access to nature.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce the $1.13 billion in funding for 385 projects at an event Thursday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The tree plantings efforts will be focused on marginalized areas in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and some tribal nations.

“We believe we can create more resilient communities in terms of the impacts of climate,” Vilsack told reporters in previewing his announcement. “We think we can mitigate extreme heat incidents and events in many of the cities.”

daneBramage,

I spent 30 years in Brisbane which has the most green space of any city in the world. My asthma cleared up 3 years after moving there.

Worldtrident,

Better keep an eye on any planted too close to a movie studio.

Rapidcreek,

I think they needed to do that years ago.

ABCDE,

Or not cut existing ones down.

the_q,

I mean, good I guess, but planting a few trees where millions used to grow seems counterintuitive.

LastYearsPumpkin,

Oh, so we do nothing? Yeah, let’s just wait it out until someone magically invents some perfect solution that we can implement all at once.

Or… we chip away at the issue until it gets solved. Lots and lots of small fixes that add up… just like how lots and lots of small problems caused the issue in the first place.

the_q,

It’s passed time to chip away at it. That was 30 years ago. The solution is to stop buying, but even you hopeful fools won’t give up your things and conveniences.

Plant your trees.

Awesomematter,

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best is now.”

captainlezbian,

What’s the alternative? There isn’t space for everyone to live in a cottage in the woods. Cities are great for density of people leaving more land to be forests. And I’d love it if cities encouraged and protected natural biome parks, especially cities that were once forested. But also this is the first step that can lead to urban forests

MisterD,

Nice but it’s a band-aid.

Prevent the storage of heat in cities.

  • metal roofs
  • light colors (aka No Black)
ABCDE,

White, specifically.

WagnasT,

I want to start seeing this stuff on buildings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDRnEm-B3AI

tldw: ultra white meta material paint that reflects infrared into space at a frequency that doesn’t get absorbed by the atmosphere.

HeartyBeast,
HeartyBeast avatar

It’s pretty amazing how effective trees are at cooling street temperatures. Also capture some particulates.

The key is to make sure they are looked after.

Swim,

the key was the plant them 40 years ago, but instead they doubled down and increased densification.

alienanimals,

Density isn’t the problem. It’s a lack of green space (which is possible with density).

The alternative is more sprawl / single family housing which would generate even more concrete cover and increase surface temperatures.

captainlezbian,

Yeah not every city needs a Central Park size green space nor do people need lawns for everyone. Trees along the sidewalks, hedges in front of buildings… Look at the rich part of your nearest city. It’s probably fairly dense except for its park, but it’ll be shaded and have room for people to grow some plants on their porch or in front of it or somewhere like that. Space that would otherwise be bare concrete.

There’s also rooftop gardens but that’s a whole other thing.

HeartyBeast,
HeartyBeast avatar

You'll be surprised how fast a decent-sized tree can start producing useful shade. Put in something about 6ft and 5 years later it will be making a difference.

Swim,

true depending onnthr type of tree for sure !

Seraph,
Seraph avatar

This is pretty awesome. I'd love to see more projects like this!

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