Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, June 05, 2013, Page 7, Image 7

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    Curtiani» (Dbsertu r ________________
lune 5, 2013
Urban Trees add to Our Health
Urban forests
providing
billions in
economic value
From Portland’s famous Forest
Park to New York City’s Central
Park, America’s urban forests store
an estimated 708 million tons of car­
bon, an environmental service with
an estimated value of $50 billion,
according to a recent U.S. Forest
Service study.
Annual net carbon uptake by
these trees is estimated at 21 million
tons and $1.5 billion in economic
benefit.
In a study published recently in
the journal Environmental Pollution,
Dave Nowak, a research forester
with the U.S. Forest Service, and his
colleagues used urban tree field data
from 28 cities and six states and
national tree cover data to estimate
total carbon storage in the nation’s
urban areas. The study resonates
with tree stewards here in Portland.
“As cities and suburbs grow and
grow, trees and urban forests are
becoming increasingly important to
the health and well-being of our
environment” said Jenn Cairo, City
of Portland Urban Forester. “Trees
provide carbon storage, filter
stormwater, help cool the air, and
provide wildlife habitat. This study
is a reminder of the many values of
Page 7
utilize it in ways including
identifying space for more tree
plantings and creating neighbor­
trees and we hope it spurs even borhood volunteers to manage the hood tree plans to promote good
more people to care for them.”
urban forest through the Neighbor­ tree management.
Cairo noted that the Portland hood Street Tree Inventory Project.
To volunteer with the Street Tree
Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry
The community volunteers are In v en to ry
P ro je c t,
c o n ta c t
division actively works with neigh­ taught to collect street tree data and trees@ portlandoregon.gov.
A CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE FOR
WOMEN THROUGHOUT
ALL STAGES OF LIFE.
WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE
ASSOCIATES uc
BACK ROW IAME S F STEMPf 1 M D | USA K JOHNSON. MO | GREGORY M. EILFRS, MO ! SIDNEY J PRESCOTT. JR , MD
w w w .w h a llc .ro n i
FRONT ROW-AMY Z S< HMITKE. MD | RICHARD N HAMILTON, M D | JAIME E. KEAN, M D 1 LISA L DlEPENHORST. MD
Same great people, great new name.
Make an appointment and come by to see
us in our Eastbank office and Tabor office.
EASTBANK
501 N. GRAHAM,
SUITE 525
PORTLAND, OR 97227
PHONE: (503) 249-5454
TABOR
5050 HOYT STREET,
SUITE 359
PORTLAND. OR 97213
PHONE: (503) 249-5454