No Shade, No Gains

2022-03-30T14:45:14+00:00

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now”.

Trees are complex beautiful things that provide us benefits we may take for granted without realizing it. They are mighty carbon warriors who take in excess carbon out of the atmosphere and in turn oxygenate our earth. Trees are also great creators of shade, our protectors against the sun’s rays when it gets too much. Shade from tree canopy, however, is not distributed equitably here in Salt Lake City and the effects are substantially felt on the west side. At TreeUtah we are working to plant more trees each year through our West Side Initiative. All people have a right to nature and we are initiating change by planting trees.

The inaccessibility of tree canopy coverage in an urban environment inevitably leads to consequences from the heat island effect. The heat island effect is not new, but as we increasingly urbanize now and in years down the line, areas will experience higher overall temperatures (up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit more during the hottest afternoons) if greenspace is not prioritized and dark surfaces like asphalt and buildings become more dominant.

Adding trees into spaces, however, will mitigate a common concern in urban areas which is ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant made from the interaction of the sun, volatile organic compounds found in common household products, and nitrogen oxide from car exhaust. Experiencing hotter days because of climate change and the urban heat island certainly does not help our ground-level ozone levels. With one of the benefits of trees being that they lower air pollution, trees are one solution to improve ground-level ozone and help individuals who are medically sensitive or who may be prone to suffer from illnesses correlated to bad air quality.

Adding things like trees in areas will also foster a sense of place and belonging for individuals because of bringing people together in outdoor spaces that seem more inviting. For further info on the social, environmental, and economic benefits provided to us each day by trees, check out our about page.

Not that long ago, the pandemic started to change the way we work. With workplace culture increasingly switching to remote, people are gravitating toward spending more time outside and participating in outdoor activities. However, we cannot reap the ultimate benefits from these experiences if basic things such as tree cover and green space are lacking. These benefits that trees provide us like improving air quality, helping the heat island, along with the change in our time spent in nature, all build up to why trees are so important in planting equitably on the streets and in places like Title I schools. Our West Side Initiative coincides with Mayor Mendenhall’s four year plan of planting an additional 1,000 trees just on the west side of Salt Lake City each year. Keep your eye out for our next community tree planting on the west side by keeping up to date on our events.

What role do dead trees have in the ecosystem?

2024-08-28T17:15:13+00:00

In urban and wild environments, living trees play an essential part in sustain a healthy ecosystem. We rely on trees to maintain our water supply, clean our air, and provide a safe habitat. These benefits are well-known among all tree lovers and they’re a big part of why we’re so passionate about bringing trees to communities across Utah. Did you know the benefits of trees extend past their living years? Dead trees (snags) and downed logs continue to be an important resource for wildlife.

Whether they’re upright or toppled, dead trees continue to play a role in the cycle of life in the ecosystems in which they’re situated. It’s estimated that up to two thirds of all wildlife species rely on downed trees for some aspect of their life cycle. The decaying surface of a snag acts as a growth substrate for many species of fungus, moss, and lichen. Moths, worms, beetles, and snails use spaces under the bark as shelter or a place for foraging. Birds enjoy these hotspots of small invertebrates as a reliable source for food. Primary cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, prefer the softwood of snags for nesting and secondary cavity nesters use these abandoned holes for their own nests in the next season. These cavities also serve as dens and food storage for small mammals, like squirrels or even bats.

In addition to their benefit as a primary resource for living creatures, dead trees contribute to the cycle of life by cycling nutrients back into the soil. Decomposers, like fungi and snails, help break down the snags as they decay. As the organic matter breaks down into its component parts, it releases nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into the soil that go on to nourish plants and other organisms in the ecosystem, including saplings. In effect, these dead trees act as mulch for a growing forest.

Dead trees also continue to play an essential part in helping us fight climate change. Even after a tree dies, the carbon dioxide absorbed while it was living remains trapped in its wood. Dead wood accounts for up to 50% of the carbon currently stored in forests. Their slow, natural decay means this carbon will remain sequestered for years, cycling through the ecosystem at a manageable pace and ensuring the ecosystem remains stable.

While we’re certainly not going to be going out to the forest to create more snags (planting new trees is more fun and makes way more sense), we feel it’s important to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of trees in all stages of their life. As little saplings, as towering giants, and as eroding snags, trees play an incredible role in our ecosystem.

Want to help us create a strong ecosystem? Join us at our tree planting events this Fall!

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No Shade, No Gains

What role do dead trees have in the ecosystem?