REASONS BACKYARDS AND GREEN SPACES ARE GOOD FOR THE PLANET

Understanding and supporting our natural world starts in our backyards and community green spaces. By using and caring for green space, we reap health and well-being benefits, and support our connected ecosystem and the planet at large. Here are just a few of the ways that our backyards and community green spaces help the environment:

Kris Kiser

President and CEO

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

1605 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314 turfmutt.com

(703)549-7600

Mitigates heat islands: The Environmental Protection Agency found that in the United States, the heat island effect results in daytime temperatures in urban areas that are 1° to 7°F higher than temperatures in the outlying areas. Increasing tree and vegetation cover lowers surface and air temperatures by providing shade and cooling through a process called evapotranspiration.

Supports pollinators and biodiversity: A study published in the journal Science found that nearly three billion birds have disappeared in North America since 1970. Grass, trees and shrubs and other plant life in our backyards and community green spaces provide food and habitat for birds, insects and small mammals and create wildlife corridors for migrating birds and other animals.

Improves air quality: Healthy lawns and other landscape plants improve air quality by trapping dust and other airborne particles.

Produces oxygen: Our living landscapes are incredible oxygen-making machines. In fact, according to The Lawn Institute, a 50-foot by 50-foot turf area produces enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of a family of four.

Controls noise pollution: Grassy areas absorb noise, cutting down on excessive sound.

Harvests rainwater and limits runoff: Rainwater “sheets off” hard surfaces. Instead of going into the ground, rainwater becomes fast-moving storm water runoff, which pollutes water systems. A 5,000-square-foot living lawn can capture around 2,000 gallons of rainwater before runoff occurs.

Sequesters carbon: The dense canopy and fibrous root system in a lawn sequesters carbon so well that it outweighs the carbon used for maintaining the grass by as much as seven-fold, according to a study by the USDA.

Controls soil erosion: Grass slows down the water runoff, thus, less soil erodes.

Creates a natural fire break: According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, “green infrastructure” can help protect communities from natural disasters, including drought and fire.

Balances the man-made environment: Our cities, towns and suburbs are manmade. Green space helps offset the miles of concrete, buildings and roadways in our general landscape. They also make our communities nicer, healthier places to live.

It’s hard to argue against nature’s importance for the health of families, communities, wildlife and the environment. Taking care of our green space and backyarding more is the right thing to do — for everyone.