Writing this article on technically the first day of summer, it’s hard to know what this summer will bring. Parts of Ontario and Quebec are in the midst of dangerous heat waves, while Calgary weather just seems to be getting nice.
With heat records being broken in recent years, it’s likely we’ll see some hot weather again this summer. As weather extremes become less “extreme” and more the norm, vegetation becomes even more important to help moderate temperatures and reduce the urban heat island effect. “Urban heat islands” (1) can result when natural land cover is replaced by dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other artificial surfaces which retain and absorb heat, for example in cities. Shade from mature trees becomes very sought-after in the heat of summer and helps keep your house naturally cooler too of course.
It seems like a lot of older trees have come down in our community to make way for new developments, and sometimes the new plantings appear quite sparse. We need to look for opportunities to maintain and augment the beautiful greenery in our community. Trees and bushes help filter out pollutants, including those from forest fires which also seem more prevalent these days. They also help manage stormwater runoff and reduce flooding, as their roots take up water and help create conditions in the soil that promote infiltration.
A study in Gothenburg, Sweden (2) investigated the effect of trees on air pollution, focusing on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs – in traffic exhaust), which haven’t been extensively studied but some are believed to be harmful to human health. Results showed that trees play a role in improving air quality in cities.
The City of Calgary offers free trees annually through the Branching Out tree program, which increases Calgary’s urban tree canopy. Program registration is closed for 2024 but check back in early spring next year for information at https://www.calgary.ca/parks-rec-programs/nature/branching-out.html on the City website. Calgary’s current tree canopy coverage is just over 8% (including trees on both public and private property) however the city is working to expand this coverage to 16%. Now is a good time to look at your yard and start thinking about where you might want to add a tree or more! A limited number of tree species are offered so you can get ideas by looking at the 2024 tree species list on the website above although they can change between years. Guidance is also provided for planting and maintenance to help you take care of your new tree.
If you want to get involved in helping to make Mount Pleasant a greener community, please email [email protected] for more information. Also check out the Mount Pleasant Green Initiative Group on Facebook, found on the Mount Pleasant Community Association page.
References
2.)https://www.gu.se/en/news/trees-are-important-for-cleaner-air-in-cities.
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