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In honor of Arbor Day, the Village of Corrales has been named a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 11th year in a row.
Started in 1976, Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. The founders had a vision for a greener, healthier America, and hoped this initiative would inspire change on a nationwide level.
The first Tree City USA cohort comprised 42 communities in 16 states. Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
A few of the benefits the organization lists for urban communities to become members are:
- Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40%.
- Neighborhoods with trees are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without.
- Trees reduce energy costs by up to 25% by shading buildings and protecting them from winter winds.
- Homes with trees have higher property values.
- Green space plays a major role in improving mental and physical health.
- Planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.
To find out more about the program, visit arborday.org.