COOLING THINGS OFF, ONE TREE AT A TIME INAUGURAL PHOENIX METRO URBAN FORESTRY ROUNDTABLE BY ANNA BRIGGS PIRIL
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rees bring a sense of calm and community; a place to relax and take in nature. Spending time outdoors and in nature can have a positive impact on overall health and well-being, a recent study published at Taylor & Francis found. Trees also provide many critical functions, such as shade, pollution and dust reduction, food, increased property value, carbon sequestration, and much more. “For us, it’s about people and the environment,” says Ashley Camhi, executive director for Arizona Sustainability Alliance. “Our goal is not just about education, but the work to inspire and promote increased tree canopies across the Valley. We are on the ground working with communities and people in an effort to create sustainability projects.” Lack of substantial urban forests have led to increases in diseases related to heat and air quality. Maricopa County contains one of the largest urban centers that experiences the nation’s highest temperatures. Factors like age, health, and poverty can increase the risk of heat-related death and illness. Low-income families have had a higher rate of asthma for the past 10 years in Arizona (Center for the Future of Arizona, 2019). Unfortunately, heat can trigger asthma symptoms because high temperatures and humidity restrict proper air flow, trapping pollutants that can irritate the airways.
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greenliving | August 2020
Arizona’s urban cities have a real need for urban forestry. For that exact reason, a group of thought leaders throughout the state have come together to bring about systems change in the urban forestry sector within the Phoenix metropolitan area. With grant funding from Vitalyst Health Foundation and the support of Arizona Sustainability Alliance, the inaugural Phoenix Metro Urban Forestry Roundtable commenced this past spring, sparking urban forestry leadership to help communities build healthy urban forests. With the inception of the Phoenix Roundtable, there will be an exponential increase in tree plantings in Phoenix urban environments, which will lead to an improvement in environmental quality, from clean air and minimized toxins, to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. There will also be increased planning for healthy communities, specifically providing access to cool, shaded spaces and access to green and open spaces, which will include a healthy tree canopy for community members to enjoy. “The Valley has an immediate need for an increased tree canopy especially from an equity lens,” says Aimee Esposito, executive director of Trees Matter. “We are working to add more tree canopy by educating the public on tree knowledge, distributing desert-adapted shade trees to residents, and greenlivingaz.com
