Since we moved here (here being the St. Louis area) about 6 years ago, I have always said there are far too few trees. I love trees and figure you can't really have too many. From an about.com article on why trees are important:
- Trees Produce Oxygen
- Trees Clean the Soil
- Trees Control Noise Pollution
- Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff
- Trees Are Carbon Sinks
- Trees Clean the Air
- Trees Shade and Cool
- Trees Act as Windbreaks
- Trees Fight Soil Erosion
- Trees Increase Property Values
On top of all of that... for me, they beautify the area they are in. I don't think people out here believe that, because they seem to enjoy living spaces with less trees. The tenants of our condo complex complain that the front of the complex is more attractive then the back. The front butts up to the highway and has far less trees, and plants in general, then the back. The back area, in my opinion (and my husband's) is much nicer, with its privately shaded sections and beautiful plants and trees... Ok, enough of my trying to convince you why trees are good 
The reason I am babbling about trees is because of something that happened here yesterday. A few days ago, we got a pamphlet in the mail from the electric company saying they will soon be going around and trimming the trees back from the power lines. They made a point to show that they will not harm the trees, but only trim what is necessary (they even had diagrams!). They must have changed their minds, because some of the few trees at the front of our complex are now completely obliterated. All that is left is are stumps. Driving down the street outside of our condos, it appears they did the same to many of the trees that once stood there.
How is this "maintaining the tree's health," as they said they were going to do? You didn't trim it, you killed it!
5 Responses
1
Organic Baby Food
June 20th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Hmmmm. i had no clue that Trees clean the soil and prevent soil erosion. I will definitely be searching around on the internet about how that whole process works! Thanks!
Also, how much do trees increase property value?
2
Stefanie
June 20th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Organic Baby Food said:
I don't think you could really put a number on it, as it would probably depend on the area and how much residents value trees. Out here, it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't help much, but I know it helps a lot where we are originally from (CT). Areas that have more trees than homes generally are much more expensive, and homes with a lot of trees for privacy also sell for much more. I, personally, would pay more for a home that had many trees than a similar one with little or no trees.
3
Bonsai Trees
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Trees are very vital to living. it is true that too many people don't see the importance that they have. my small town is expanding and with that they are cutting down trees and forests that were once beautiful and made the town special.
4
Stefanie
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Bonsai, that really sucks. Where I used to live I had woods in my backyard, which was great. Where we live now, it seems they don't respect trees nearly as much.
5
Adam
February 14th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Air quality is finally getting recognized as requiring some action. Trees are an essential part of the solution. As important is the air monitoring to ensure that we are minimizing our pollution of the atmosphere.