When you plant a tree, you help save lives

When you plant a tree, you help save lives. 

According to a recent article in Grist Environmental News, “Trees don’t just beautify residential neighborhoods. In urban areas, they can save lives.

“A new study published last month in the Lancet, a peer-reviewed public health journal, finds that doubling the average amount of tree cover in European cities from 15 to 30 percent could reduce urban temperatures by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit) — a small but powerful change that could cut heat-related deaths by more than a third.”

…

“The study authors encouraged city planners to plant more trees, noting benefits even beyond reduced mortality — including better mental health and cognitive function. Greenery can also reclaim urban space from cars, creating room for recreation and more sustainable forms of transportation.”

And that’s what ReLeaf Petaluma is all about. Already we’ve planted more than 100 trees in Petaluma parks. Donations and grants support our work, which costs about $100 per tree.  And hard work by our volunteers gets the trees in the ground. Sign up for our newsletter to find out how you can help plant trees—and maybe save lives: https://www.releafpetaluma.org/contact

Read the rest of the Grist article here: https://grist.org/beacon/urban-trees-can-save-lives/