Iowa DNR
forestry staff are currently setting up site visits with schools and communities
interested in applying for the grant, which pays up to $5,000 in tree and mulch
cost, and provides educational tree planting demonstrations to participating
adults and youth.
This past
spring, 20 schools and/or communities received more than $62,000 in Trees For
Kids grants to plant more than 900 trees around the state. Over the life
of these trees, they will save more than 310,000 kilowatt hours of electricity
by shading buildings and more than 68,000 therms, by slowing winds and reducing
building heat loss.
During their
lifespan, the 900 trees planted this spring will help reduce flooding by
intercepting more than 39.8 million gallons of storm water, and will reduce
more than 5.3 million pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide through CO2
sequestration and decreased energy production needs and emissions.
Trees planted
around schools and in neighborhoods have also shown to give youth increased
levels of concentration, lower levels of aggression, lower levels of obesity
and fewer symptoms of ADHD. Communities are made more livable by having a
healthy, diverse tree canopy.
To download
the grant application, go to: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/Forestry/UrbanForestry.aspx
For more information, contact Laura Wagner, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources Forestry Bureau, at 515-725-8456.
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