Institute For Environmental Solutions Tree Project Underway

(Denver, Colorado) - The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, has begun work on the Tree Project — Integrated Urban Environmental Improvement Through Tree Selection and Planting.

Xcel Energy Foundation awarded a generous startup grant to IES to begin the innovative environmental improvement project at the end of 2004. During the first half of 2005, IES staff members and volunteers began work to organize and design the project. The IES Board of Directors is now establishing the Project Steering Committee, and Phase 1 of the project will be underway in August.

Trees – properly selected and planted – can reduce air pollution, energy and water consumption, improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, improve wildlife habitat, reduce noise, and provide numerous social benefits.

IES seeks to develop and implement a sound, scientific effective plan to increase tree planting and improve the environment in the urban Front Range of Colorado. The purpose of this project is to assess how the urban greenscape can be enhanced through optimal tree selection and increased tree planting to achieve significant improvements to the environment.

The objectives are to reduce air pollution, outdoor water consumption, and energy consumption, and to improve stormwater quality, flood management, and habitat. Planting trees and other vegetation is often suggested to achieve multiple benefits; however, multidisciplinary scientific analysis is needed to evaluate the actual improvements, unit and long-term costs, and to integrate the scientific results across environmental media (air, water, soil, energy). It is especially important in our prairie ecosystem — where native trees were historically very limited in their range and density — to know which plants are effective and sustainable in the long-term. This project will assess vegetation benefits under various scenarios to establish optimal urban tree and shrub selection guidelines for practical, cost effective environmental improvements.

University of Denver graduate interns, Erin McVeigh and Kristen Gray, have conducted intensive research to establish the background information needed to inform potential project stakeholders about tree studies which have been done in other communities and relevant scientific analyses.

Individuals and organizations interested in participating in and providing financial support for The Tree Project are encouraged to contact IES (www.InstituteforEnvironmentalSolutions.org). IES seeks the involvement of key stakeholders, such as water providers, wastewater treatment agencies, energy suppliers and consumers, forestry organizations, landscape professionals, and builders.

Please visit www.InstituteforEnvironmentalSolutions.org for more information, or contact:

Carol E. Lyons, QEP
President
Institute for Environmental Solutions
761 Newport Street
Denver , Colorado 80220-5554 USA
303-388-5211; fax 303-388-3209
http://www.InstituteforEnvironmentalSolutions.org

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