L.A. City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa intends to plant one million trees in the City of Los Angeles with the help of community groups, schools, businesses and individuals. To help the City carry out this bold initiative, TreePeople is creating a new partnership with L.A. Department of Recreation & Parks. Beginning in the fall of 2006, we will help volunteers plant 300,000 trees on nearly 16,000 acres of parkland in Los Angeles. These plantings will take place over the next several years.
During the first year, plantings will take place in San Pedro and Wilmington (Harbor Regional Park, near the L.A. Harbor), the Northeast San Fernando Valley (Hansen Dam area) and Griffith Park. After those park plantings are established we will expand into the other L.A. City park areas. If you, your family, your community group or business would like to be a part of this exciting project please contact volunteer@treepeople.org
Why Plant One Million Trees in Los Angeles?
* U. S. cities have lost 20 percent of their trees during the past decade. The impact? $234 billion in environmental and health problems nationwide.
* U. S. cities have lost the connective tissue of community. Steeply declining rates of civic engagement by young people over the past 30 years reveals that students and families are no longer taught to take part in public life. This is especially true in disadvantaged populations.
* Trees help clean the air, reduce heat gain, provide nutrition, and support good mental health and well-being. Planting and caring for trees provides meaningful physical exercise for youth and adults. Trees protect wildlife and stabilize terrain. Planting and caring for trees is an excellent means of building networks among families, neighbors, organizations and businesses - the building blocks of community.
* A well-designed urban forest saves public and private money. It saves energy through shading and cooling of buildings and pavement. It reduces negative health trends including childhood asthma and skin cancer. Trees and landscaping absorb and help clean rainwater, and reduce polluted runoff to the ocean.
* For these benefits to happen, trees must be planted strategically, guided by careful planning and leadership. At the same time, the ongoing survival of the urban forest is dependent on support from local, engaged residents.
