Urban Forest Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

An urban reforestation program to combat global warming in Tallahassee will be announced this Friday by Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell. Plants and Design Garden Interiors, Inc. (located on West Tennessee Street) and service learning students from Florida State University will launch this project, designed to increase awareness about the causes of global warming, in cooperation with the City of Tallahassee and Leon County.

Using native trees, will assist in ensuring the stability of the plantings. Urban reforesting programs in other cities have reported successful outcomes the include improving the visual appeal of the landscape, reducing water run-off, cooling the atmosphere, as well as improving overall air quality including absorbing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfuric oxide and other nasty particulate pollutants created by our automobiles and trucks.

Native large trees include, of course, the Live Oak, the Loblolly Bay, Saw Cabbage Palm and Florida Royal Palm, the Sweet Bay and Southern Magnolia. Information on the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) lists trees by size and where these trees grow naturally in Florida.

While we're leisurely planting a tree or two, let's remember that the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that Co2 emissions will rise by 57% by 2030. And that amount could be higher if China and India continue to increase automobiles on the roads and use of coal.

Posted in: Co2 gas,environment,greenhouse gas reduction,Tallahassee,trees,urban reforestation