Trees: A forward-thinking investment for everyone
Tony Digiovanni, Trees for Life board member, teaches his grandkids how to plant trees at a recent planting event honouring Trillium Health Centre health workers. Photo: Trees for Life
When you experience the coolness of a tree-lined street, gaze at vibrant fall colours, or enjoy a picnic under the shade of a majestic tree, have you ever wondered who planted those trees? They did not just appear. Someone decided to invest in the future.
The trees were planted decades, and in some cases hundreds of years ago, by benefactors we will never know. Who were those visionaries who cared enough to enhance our lives many years later? In a sense, they are still communicating with us. They are telling us a story about the importance of improving the lives of strangers. They are demonstrating their contribution, ethics, and stewardship values. They are inspiring the next generation to assume responsibility for doing the same thing they did. Planting trees is a magical, profound, and hopeful act.
Municipalities that prioritize tree planting are more than just greening their communities. They are making a forward-thinking investment in public health and community well-being. They are helping their cities and towns become more sustainable, livable, healthier, resilient, and beautiful for future generations.
The time to act is now. The benefits will be felt for decades.
Surprisingly, many people are not aware of the many benefits trees provide. Many have become alienated from nature. I once spoke to a group of engineers about the economic benefit of planting trees along roadways. One of them said that falling leaves are a safety hazard. He remarked that they were difficult to clean up. Once we tried to convince a school board to plant more trees to provide shade for students. They welcomed the shade argument, but they did not want trees because they might attract bees.
Thankfully there is a considerable and expanding body of research on the benefits of urban trees and nature. Trees provide economic, aesthetic, environmental, social, recreational, therapeutic, and spiritual benefits, (and more). They filter pollutants, provide oxygen, utilize and store carbon dioxide, provide shade, lower rainfall-runoff and flooding, reduce noise levels, reduce energy consumption, prevent soil erosion, and slow wind speed. And they are beautiful, mesmerizing, and majestic. They will also outlast us. Google “Benefits of Trees” and you will find thousands of articles.
Funding Support
Funding urban tree-planting projects can be challenging; however, municipalities can leverage many creative and effective strategies. Support is available from several not-for-profit organizations such as Tree Canada, Forests Ontario, and Trees for Life.
Trees for Life (https://www.treesforlife.ca/) is a charity that works with aligned partners to raise funds and provide resources to plant more trees where people live, work, and play. Trees for Life is currently accepting project proposals. You can learn more and submit your project idea at https://www.treesforlife.ca/request-project-support.
The Federal 2 Billion Trees Program has energized many public planting programs by providing partner funding for municipalities interested in increasing their urban canopy cover. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is coordinating part of this massive effort. Please visit https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/growing-canadas-community-canopies. Municipalities can receive funding for up to 50 per cent of the cost of tree planting. What a gift.
Hero Forests Campaign
Drawing from our experience raising funds for tree planting through the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, we discovered that although most people understand that trees are good for the environment they are more motivated to participate if trees are planted in recognition or celebration of people. Based on this learning, we are proposing a network of “Hero Forests” where trees are planted in honour of local heroes.
Imagine if every city and town in Canada dedicated one to five hectares for “Hero Forests” that will become living legacies. The community will be encouraged to support the planting of trees to celebrate, recognize, memorialize, and honour their favourite individual or community “hero.” Trees would be planted to celebrate birthdays and to mark special occasions. Corporations could plant trees for their employees. Municipalities could plant trees for first responders, front-line workers, the military, teachers, and exceptional public servants. The definition of “hero” is broad.
Each site will host permanent signage directing the public to the “Hero Forest” website listing sponsors and permanently naming the heroes being honoured. The forests will create public engagement opportunities, including volunteer plantings, publicity, and media events across multi-year project phases.
Hero Forests can be further enhanced with outdoor shade structures, walkways, and interpretive signage. Funding could come from individuals, municipalities, tree affinity groups, corporate sponsors, service clubs, community fundraising events, and more.
From a personal perspective, my wife and I have long been planting trees to memorialize loved ones and to celebrate children and grandchildren. In my backyard, a tree was planted by my granddaughter for her mother. We planted trees for our two grandchildren. We also planted an oak to celebrate our 40th anniversary. For my sister’s 70th birthday, we planted a tree. When a loved one passes, we plant trees in their memory.
Tony’s Forever Forest
Two of my most cherished, humbling, and overwhelming moments came when a grove of trees was planted to celebrate my retirement and when I was told of my family’s plans to create a forest to celebrate a milestone birthday. The birthday forest was my granddaughter’s idea. She named it “Tony’s Forever Forest.”
The special emotions evoked when trees are planted for recognition, celebration, and memory are hard to describe. It is a legacy gift that lasts for generations. Trees for Life sees Hero Forests as the community hub filling a void we never knew existed.
Hero Forests will be an example of what can be accomplished when a community unites to honour its heroes by planting trees, and how collaboration between citizens, non-profits, the corporate sector, and government can contribute to local tree planting and urban greening goals. Guided by the local community, Hero Forests will follow the same format, but no two will be alike.
Have questions about Hero Forests? Visit https://www.treesforlife.ca/hero-forests for more information, or contact Trees for Life Operations Manager, Marina at Marina@treesforlife.ca. MW
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Mark Cullen’s article: Vision for green and resilient communities.
Tony DiGiovanni is the co-founder of Trees for Life
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