Tree Preservation Matters - by Lori Olivier

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Tree Preservation Matters
by Lori Olivier
[Secretary of McANA]

The Tree Preservation/Conservation Policy Committee of Indianapolis was formed in September, 2001 to examine issues of preservation, conservation and restoration of trees and wooded areas. The 40 member committee consisted of city and county residents, land development professionals, and special interest groups.

One of the many documents reviewed was from Dr. Greg Lindsey and the Graduate Planning Workshop from IUPUI. The report from December 18, 2001 states, “Urban forestry programs are increasing in prevalence as cities and their residents become more aware of the countless benefits trees provide. These programs differ greatly from city to city, but generally focus on protecting, maintaining and increasing tree cover throughout an urban area.”

American Forests, “a national nonprofit concerned with improving the nations urban forests, recommends that cities have at least 40 percent tree cover on average. This includes 15% for commercial areas, 25% for urban residential areas, and 60% for suburban areas.” Indianapolis’ tree canopy is declining. According to one study by Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Indianapolis-Marion County has an average tree cover of approximately 13 percent.

Currently Indianapolis does not have a Tree Preservation Plan. There are many reasons for adopting such a plan. The McDonald’s Restaurant at 1020 Broad Ripple Avenue demonstrated typical corporate disregard for the importance of trees by razing their old structure and erecting a new building. In the process they cut down a 200 year old white ash tree.

No single element will do more to improve our community than the preservation and planting of a lot of shade trees. Trees have an enormous calming effect on people. “Why is it I never walk under trees, but large and melodious thoughts descend on me?” asked the poet, Walt Whitman. The less romantic people at the journal Science published a 1984 study that found, over a nine-year period, that surgical patients who could see a cluster of trees outside their windows, instead of brick walls, “had shorter post-operative stays” and took fewer moderate or strong painkillers.

Trees counteract the greenhouse effect by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in its place. Their leaves attract and remove dirt, ash, dust, pollen and fumes from the air. Big trees act as powerful air conditioners in the summer and windbreaks in the winter. They soften the landscape, screening eyesores and unifying disparate buildings along the street.

The power of trees to enhance our urban areas has been woefully unappreciated. Every parking lot should have trees distributed evenly throughout the lot. Shade trees should be planted and preserved along every street. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” emphasizes that, “we are powerfully influenced by our surroundings. The features of our immediate social and physical world—the streets we walk down…play a huge role in shaping who we are and how we act”. We can improve and positively influence our environment by respecting, planting and preserving trees.

And, urging the mayor, through “Friendly Persuasion”, to adopt (finally) a tree preservation/conservation plan.