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Study Shows Massive Tree Loss in Cities |
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| USA: September 18, 2003 | ||
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas - U.S. cities have lost more than 20 percent of their trees in the past 10 years, due primarily to urban sprawl and highway construction, an environmental group said.
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The vast tree loss contributes to environmental and health problems that have cost an estimated $234 billion, the group American Forests said in a study released at the annual National Urban Forest Conference. "America's cities are developing a huge tree deficit," said American Forests Vice President Gary Moll. He said a four-year study of 448 urban areas using satellite imaging to compare with a similar study 10 years ago found 21 percent less tree canopy. "Trees preserve our water and prevent flooding," Moll said. "They remove pollution from the air. They cool the environment and reduce the need for air conditioning." He said the loss of trees had contributed to a rise in respiratory diseases in the United States. The report said urban deforestation was a problem across the country, but was especially bad in fast-growing cities in the Sun Belt. Moll cited Atlanta as the worst urban area for tree loss, while Charlotte, North Carolina, and San Diego were the two best. "Charlotte looked at Atlanta's experience and decided they didn't want to follow it," he said. American Forests urged cities, real estate developers and individuals to protect forests and called for replacing 10 percent of the lost tree cover by the planting of 1.7 billion trees over the next 10 years. "Everybody needs to include green information into their decision making," Moll said. "It's simple: don't create areas where trees can't grow."
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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