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back to news index ..... Big trees matter! A new government report on trees in towns and cities has revealed trends of decreasing new tree planting and increasing threats to our older trees. Broadcaster and environmentalist, Professor Chris Baines, has teamed up with tree experts, Jeremy Barrell and Neville Fay, to emphasise the temperature buffering benefits that trees offer to urban life.
Emerging research is indicating that a small increase of just 10% in our urban green space may be sufficient to buffer the temperature rises in cities from global warming anticipated during the 21st Century. In a bid to emphasise the importance of big trees, the trio head an international list of speakers in a landmark conference, Trees: they key to climate proofing our cities, to be held at the Royal Geographic Society in London on 10 July 2008. With the impact of global warming beginning to bite, broadcaster and environmentalist, Professor Chris Baines, believes that falling tree planting is not the only problem we have to face: “Big trees are being lost from our towns and cities at an alarming rate, with painful consequences for our future comfort”, he observes. “Trees play an essential role in keeping urban temperatures down and, with predicted city rises in excess of 4°C during the 21st Century because of the urban heat island effect, a future with fewer trees is going to be uncomfortably hot.” In this context, it is not surprising that the government report recommends that councils “develop and implement a comprehensive tree strategy.”
Left to right: Jeremy Barrell, Professor Chris Baines and Neville Fay Professor Baines points to recent research by the University of Manchester, which suggests that a 10% increase in urban canopy cover may be enough to buffer these expected temperature rises. But, he cautions: “There is some urgency about this; to reap the temperature-buffering benefits that only big trees can provide, we must be planting them now so they are big enough when we will need them most. Small trees when the heat is here will be too little, too late!” A landmark conference, "Trees: the key to climate proofing our cities", will explore the issue and what we can all do to make a difference. The event will be held at the Royal Geographic Society on 10th July. For programme details and to find out what you can do to make a difference, visit: www.treeworks.co.uk/seminars
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