Tired of leaving the city to find trees in the suburbs and countryside? Well, residents of Chicago, Illinois will no longer have to. According to the Chicago Trees Initiative, a program started by Mayor Richard M. Daley on Arbor Day in 2009, the city hopes to have an average tree cover of 20% by the year 2020. For a city that covers 234 square miles, that is a lot of trees.

The Chicago Trees Initiative (CTI) is actually a coalition of government and non-profit organizations that work together to plant more trees within the City of Chicago and take better care of the trees that are already planted. According to its website, “The mission of the Chicago Trees Initiative is to improve quality of life in Chicago by increasing public awareness about the value and importance of trees. Together, we can inspire a civic and social movement that will involve all of us in improving Chicago’s urban forest.” The CTI is continuously documenting the status of trees, searching for the best habitats within the city, and strategically planning the location of each new group of trees. It also hosts events such as lectures at the Chicago Botanical Gardens and tours around the city showing the benefits of trees within an urban landscape. Through the efforts of this initiative, Chicago has already increased its tree count to 3,600,000.

Why are trees so important to an urban environment? Trees are natural filters for the air surrounding big cities. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide gases emitted from factories, cars, and human beings. Trees then use the CO2 to produce oxygen which we, of course, need to breathe. The CTI estimates that trees in Chicago remove about 754 tons of air pollution per year, the effects of which are worth about $6 million.

Trees also indirectly reduce the greenhouse effect. Many of the surfaces in big cities like Chicago absorb and retain heat from the sun, creating what’s known as the Heat Island Effect. Even at night this heat continues to radiate and get trapped amongst the tall buildings so that the average temperature of a city is much higher than the surrounding area. This drives up air conditioning usage, greenhouse emissions, and energy costs every summer. When these surfaces are shaded by trees, they absorb less heat and lower the overall temperature of the city, thereby requiring less energy consumption.

The maintenance of these trees is important because they need protection from many enemies. Pests such as the Asian Long-horned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer afflict trees, despite the City’s efforts to stop the spread and infestation. Diseases such as Dutch Elm Disease and Anthracnose require continuous tree pruning and removal to prevent losses of entire trees. And severe weather fluctuations, including extended periods of drought, extreme heat during the summer, and harsh winters place further stresses on trees. The CTI monitors these conditions and works to prevent further losses of Chicago’s urban forest.

Do you want to help plant trees? CTI gives a list of natural trees for Chicagoites to plant. CTI also reviews all contributions and plans to plant trees within the City of Chicago. It encourages people to contribute funds to www.gatewaygreen.org or the Chicago Community Trust at www.cct.org.   If you’re not a resident of Chicago you can encourage your town or city to participate in similar programs. Other cities are offering programs like Milliontreesnyc in New York City or the Metropolitan Washington DC campaign. These programs are making a big impact on our environment, and it is important to be aware of the benefits of urban forests and contribute to planting and protecting trees in your town or city.

Photo credit: fotopedia.com/items/flipendo-bkmByr2wwhU