The City of Grand Rapids is working to revive its urban forest. Lindsey Smith visited the committee in charge of the effort to find out how things are going.
Three things to know about trees in Grand Rapids:
- The committee values the 61,000 trees within the city’s boundaries at $71 million. (How'd they get that number? It's based on the benefits trees provide: capturing storm water runoff, increasing property values, improving air quality and reducing heating and cooling costs for nearby buildings.)
- In 2010, more than 1,500 trees were planted in Grand Rapids.
- This year they’re working to add a wider variety of native trees - to better protect the urban forest from new pests and disease. (i.e. things like the uber-destructive emerald ash borer)
Lindsey talked with Dottie Clune, the committee chair. She says the importance of trees is often overlooked - especially these days with tight city budgets.
“We know that for every dollar we spent on the municipal urban forestry program we received $3.60 in benefits. That’s a pretty good return on investment.”
