The Okanagan Saturday Newspaper from June 20th had a very interesting article “Trees are our most valuable antiques” from Ron Candy, director Vernon Museum.
The urban forest provides benefits, the most important being the health of our environment and home to wildlife.
Urban trees reduce temperatures by providing shade to buildings and reducing the need for electrically operated air conditioners, thus providing much needed energy savings. In fact, a healthy urban forest can go so far as to reduce ambient air temperatures within entire neighbourhoods by several degrees.
Trees also help to remove or reduce dust and other pollutants from the air, pollutants that can trigger asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
According to the Canadian Medical Association, 18 trees are all that is needed to produce enough oxygen to support the breathing of 10 people for a year. One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen.
Tree roots absorb and store rainwater that, in turn, helps to hold soil in place and combat erosion. Trees can also absorb chemicals and other pollutants that have entered the soil. They store harmful pollutants or alter them into less-harmful forms.
During windy and chilly seasons, trees on the windward side of a home or structure act as windbreaks. This effective windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30 per cent.
Trees also cut down on noise pollution. Trees can muffle urban noise almost as effectively as a wall made of stone. The US Environmental Protection Agency states, “Trees can reduce bothersome noise by up to 50 per cent and mask unwanted noises with pleasant, natural sounds”.
A mature tree can have an appraised value between $1000 and $10000. 98 per cent of Realtor believe that mature trees have a strong impact on the saleability of homes.
The Trepanier Manor Development ignored all above points. All trees have been cut down on the ~ 5 acre hotel and 20 homes site. Not smart !!!
See also http://www.treecanada.ca for more information