Trees Help with Drought Mediation

Trees Help with Drought Mediation

Trees, in addition to their many benefits for people and wildlife, also benefit their surrounding trees and native plants. Peter Wohlleben, a German scientist, believes that trees communicate with one another, and with native plant species as well. This is something that previously was disputed, but has since been gaining traction in the scientific community.

Wohlleben, along with other German scientists, has discovered that trees of the same species create a type of alliance and become dependent on one another. They form a connection through the use of mycorrhizal networks where the roots of trees connect to fungal filaments, allowing a form of communication between the trees. This fungal connection allows the trees to share nutrients and water, as well as alert each other about droughts, invasive insects, or other distressing events. This communicative system allows trees to learn from one another and change their behavior based on the event at hand.

When nearby trees are struggling, other trees will feed them sugar and other nutrients needed to survive. Having a network of trees to support one another will help ensure their survival and will promote the health of other native species planted nearby. In addition, when drought conditions are prolonged, trees have been able to access deep-water through their root system, allowing for extended survival in sub-optimal conditions. Trees will make adjustments to their growing periods in times of drought, conserving resources while attempting to access other sources of water.

It is important to have trees and native species in your community that can adjust to different weather conditions and maintain their health in periods of drought, or when faced with invasive species. Of course, it is always great to help your tree when it needs a little assistance, but the native trees GHEP provides are strong, sturdy trees that will benefit you over the years! Check out our Family Tree Adoption Program page to gain more information about this program and learn how you can participate!

Sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8457149/
https://www.forestsociety.org/something-wild/what-happens-trees-drought

Protecting the Earth: Trees are a Cost-Effective Solution to Climate Change

Protecting the Earth: Trees are a Cost-Effective Solution to Climate Change

Trees have a wide variety of benefits that they offer, both to humans and to our natural environment. For example, trees improve our mental health, reduce energy use, reduce water and air pollution, protect us from the urban heat island effect, and create social and economic opportunities, to name a few. What all these benefits have in common is that they all contribute to minimizing the effects of climate change on our environment.

The energy that urban trees conserve is one of the most important factors in reducing our impact on the environment. Strategically placed trees can provide shade to buildings and alter the wind patterns, keeping the home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. A single tree in an urban area sequesters 4.5-11 kg of carbon, but is responsible for avoiding the combustion of 18 kg of carbon annually, accounting for reduced energy use in addition to the carbon sequestration. This makes one urban tree equal to the impact of 3-5 trees in a forest. With such a prominent impact on our environment, the increased planting and maintenance of urban trees is something that will reduce our impact. Although this impact will not make an extreme difference on a global scale, every action makes a difference.

In addition, the reduced use of energy is not the only benefit trees have as we try to mitigate climate change. Trees have an effect on both air pollution and water pollution. In the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, runoff is a growing source of pollution. As more land continues to be developed, there is more surface area where rainwater cannot be absorbed, and instead continues to collect pollutants and carry them into rivers and streams. This is where trees come into play. In urban areas where there is not a large amount of trees or natural areas, increasing the presence of trees has a large effect on reducing runoff. Trees absorb water through their roots and collect water on their leaves, which is returned to the atmosphere through a process called evapotranspiration. Having a tree in your yard or out by the street can make a big difference when it comes to reducing pollution in the beloved Chesapeake Bay.

Trees also play a significant role in reducing air pollution. They intercept particulate matter and absorb airborne pollutants, leaving the air cleaner than it was. The Conservation Law Foundation estimates that 45 million tons of carbon are absorbed by urban forests in the U.S., and that this number could more than double if more trees were strategically planted in urban areas.

Trees are constantly benefiting the areas around them, and as they age and grow, their benefits only continue to increase. GHEP wants to help contribute to reducing the effects of climate change on our communities in Prince George’s County. Through our Family Tree Adoption Program, you can plant at least three free trees in your yard, which will provide endless benefits to yourself, your community, and the environment.

Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749101002640?via%3Dihub
https://www.cbf.org/issues/polluted-runoff/index.html
https://www.clf.org/blog/urban-trees-benefit-our-climate-and-health/

🌳 Tree Planting Demonstration Day

🌳 Tree Planting Demonstration Day

Join us for a tree planting demonstration and tree care education event in collaboration with our partners from Ecoasis Garden Center, CBTrust, and the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment. Flags will be distributed to FTAP families, and we’ll enjoy a fun tree demonstration with refreshments and group photos hosted by an FTAP volunteer family.

The Family Tree Adoption Program (FTAP) is a grassroots community-based initiative that provides free native trees and shrubs to private homeowners in Prince George’s County, Maryland. FTAP is dedicated to greening our communities by increasing the tree canopy, leading to improved air and water quality, enhanced community aesthetics, and lasting benefits. Join us in building thriving, sustainable communities that prioritize environmental and human health.

Tree Planting Demonstration Day

Tree Planting Demonstration Day

Join us for a tree planting demonstration and tree care education event in collaboration with our partners from Ecoasis Garden Center, CBTrust, and the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment. Flags will be distributed to FTAP families, and we’ll enjoy a fun tree demonstration with refreshments and group photos hosted by an FTAP volunteer family.

The Family Tree Adoption Program (FTAP) is a grassroots community-based initiative that provides free native trees and shrubs to private homeowners in Prince George’s County, Maryland. FTAP is dedicated to greening our communities by increasing the tree canopy, leading to improved air and water quality, enhanced community aesthetics, and lasting benefits. Join us in building thriving, sustainable communities that prioritize environmental and human health.

Tree Planting Demonstration Day

Tree Planting Demonstration Day

Join us for a tree planting demonstration and tree care education event in collaboration with partners from Ecoasis Garden Center, CBTrust, and the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment. Flags will be distributed to FTAP families, and we’ll enjoy a fun tree demonstration with refreshments and group photos hosted by an FTAP volunteer family.

The Family Tree Adoption Program (FTAP) is a grassroots community-based initiative that provides free native trees and shrubs to private homeowners in Prince George’s County, Maryland. FTAP is dedicated to greening our communities by increasing the tree canopy, leading to improved air and water quality, enhanced community aesthetics, and lasting benefits. Join us in building thriving, sustainable communities that prioritize environmental and human health.