Back in 1872, J. Sterling Morton recognized the importance of trees to the quality of life for people living in the prairie state of Nebraska. That’s where the tradition of celebrating Arbor Day began.
While Virginia seems to be blessed with an abundance of trees, when land is developed, trees are generally the first casualty. Throughout the state, forested lands continue to be lost at an alarming rate and the impact reaches further than most people realize…especially when you consider that fish grow on trees.
All living creatures benefit from trees in one way or another. Healthy urban trees help provide cleaner air, filter water, provide shade that can lower utility bills, and increase property values. The presence of urban greenspaces and a strong green infrastructure helps us connect with nature, as well as provide a habitat for wildlife. From an economic angle, Virginia’s trees and sustainable forestry maintains a strong commercial industry in wood and wood products.
Beauty and value aside, the basic role of trees is to anchor the soil to the earth. So essentially, a clean and healthy James Rivers begin with trees.
Any trees you plant will help prevent rainwater from running off your property, thereby keeping silt and excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) out of the waterways. While you want these nutrients on your yard, excess nutrients washing in our streams and rivers can lead to the excess growth of algae, which reduces light penetration. This prevents the growth of underwater grasses used as habitat and food for wildlife. Algae growth also reduces the oxygen content of the water. Without grasses or sufficient oxygen, fish cannot survive. Therefore…fish really do grow on trees! This Arbor Day, plant a tree for yourself, the health of the James River and its fish.
Celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, April 3 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Carillon in Richmond’s Byrd Park. For more information and a list of free activities, visit http://treestewards.rrpfoundation.org/.
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