My government plants trees, why should I?
Governments are currently planting trees in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change. While this is a nice gesture, governments face many challenges that limit their ability to resolve our current climatic challenges. In addition, governments―which are public institutions―are unable to plan for private homeowners. To use running lingo, governments can act as pacemakers but they are certainly not front-runners! As individuals, we have the ability to go beyond the efforts of the government by being more effective than them in restoring our climate. Cumulatively, by taking action in our immediate environment, that is what will lead to real results!
Governments face many challenges that limit their ability to effectively fight the current climate challenges
Natural Forests
We often imagine the vast expanse of forest in our country as a pristine sanctuary that will protect us from the ordeals of climate change. It is true that our forests were once good for mitigating climate change, but this is no longer the case. According to the Government of Canada: "Canada's forests have become sources of carbon, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than they accumulate in a given year."
Several factors are responsible for this change. Widespread tree death caused by unprecedented insect epidemics, changes in the wood industry, and an increasing area of land consumed by fires result in more carbon being released in the atmosphere than what is absorbed by the forest. To make matters worse, a feedback loop exists where continuous transgressions against the climate will cause more frequent and intense disturbances that will affect more and more trees. For example, increased droughts caused by a dry climate will increase the severity of insect epidemics, which will increase the number of dead trees, which will increase the flammability of the forest and make fires even more difficult to contain. These interconnected events all lead to a reduction in the capacity of our forests to act as a carbon sink.
Canada's forests release more carbon into the atmosphere than they accumulate in a given year
Urban Trees
Many cities and municipalities have started to plant trees in order to beautify the landscape and respond to the environmental concerns of their citizens. Even though this is a commendable undertaking, cities and municipalities face many challenges such as substandard planting sites and a centralized maintenance regime that greatly reduces the ability of these programs to fight climate change.
Cities often plant trees in low-quality sites such as pits along sidewalks or in strips along roads. In these areas, trees grow in compact soil surrounded by concrete which prevents these trees from growing as large and healthy as those planted in continuous soil. As a result, the ability of these trees to mitigate climate change is significantly reduced.
Urban trees surrounded by concrete are not as good at mitigating climate change
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Government agencies have highly centralized systems that consume a lot of resources and undermine the effectiveness of their environmental programs. For example, cities and municipalities water trees with tankers that produce a large amount of CO2 emissions. This logistical challenge also limits the frequency of irrigation, which not only restricts the choice of trees that can be planted to drought tolerant species, but also increases tree mortality. These limitations are costly and negate much of the gains that trees would otherwise offer.
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Highly centralized government systems are expensive and produce a lot of CO2 emissions
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And you?
As an owner, your property provides a much better planting site and allows you to grow a wider variety of species. AVES helps you select the best tree* for your property as well as its ideal location. As for you, you minimize greenhouse gas emissions by decentralizing tree maintenance and own a tree that stores a share of the excess carbon that contributes to our current climatic challenges. Together, we will make a difference!
As an owner, your property provides a much better planting site and allows you to grow a wider variety of species. AVES helps you select the best tree* for your property as well as its ideal location. As for you, you minimize greenhouse gas emissions by decentralizing tree maintenance and own a tree that stores a share of the excess carbon that contributes to our current climatic challenges. Together, we will make a difference!
*Based on our latest mathematical models/formulas, the ecological requirements of the plants, their local availability, and other aesthetic and practical considerations
Private properties make ideal sites to plant trees to mitigate the effects of climate change
Ready to take real steps to fight climate change? Contact us
Sources:
Tank Truck: Patrick J. Turgeon
Tank Truck: Patrick J. Turgeon