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TREE SHADE IS NATURE'S SUNSCREEN
In 2016, Davey emphasized a tree benefit that directly
benefits our health—the shade cast by a tree's canopy
that shelters us, and the environment, from harsh UV
rays. Trees reduce energy bills, clean our air and make
our world a more beautiful place, but they are also
nature's sunscreen. The goal of the Nature's Sunscreen
campaign is to make people think about the connection
between their own health and the health of their trees.
A healthy tree provides lots of shade, which keeps us
healthy by reducing rates of skin cancer and other
negative effects of sun exposure.
i-TREE TURNS 10
Ten years ago, convincing municipal and residential
clients of the value of their trees—and the importance
of planting and maintaining them—proved a tall task
for many arborists. That started to change with the
introduction in 2006 of i-Tree, an integrated suite of
software products and urban forestry assessment tools
designed to assess urban forests and the benefits they
provide. i-Tree grew out of a partnership between Davey, the U.S. Forest
Service, Arbor Day Foundation, Society of Municipal Arborists,
International Society of Arboriculture and Casey Trees.
When Davey first launched i-Tree, the goal was advocacy—demonstrating
that trees do have value and they're worth the cost to plant and maintain.
Before the introduction of i-Tree, arborists had little evidence to argue with in
favor of supporting their budgets. Arborists knew trees captured storm water,
provided energy-saving shade and improved air quality, but they couldn't
quantify those benefits. Municipalities commonly cut into or eliminated urban
forestry budgets in favor of supporting traditional public services.
Today, the market has changed. The idea of quantifying ecosystem services
is now a driving force behind improved urban forest management. We
now have the tools to help us make management decisions and encourage
better stewardship of the urban forest.
