Radio Smart Talk: Earth Day — the benefits of trees, especially in urban areas

Radio Smart Talk for Monday, April 22:

April 22 is Earth Day, a day designed to bring attention to the to protect the planet‘s environment.

Many Earth Day observances and activities are occurring over the weekend and many more are scheduled for Monday.

On Monday’s Radio Smart Talk, we will focus on one of the most basic elements of the environment — trees and the benefits they provide, especially in urban areas.

We may take trees for granted but without them, the world would be a much more polluted, dangerous, unhealthy, and unpleasant place.

For example, trees clean the air, provide oxygen, cool streets and homes, conserve energy and save water.

A number of programs have been developed over the past few decades to make trees a large part of a cleaner, healthier environment. Trees have been planted strategically in thousands of rural locations throughout the country. But there also are organized efforts to plant and grow trees in cities where they may even have a greater impact.

Joining us on Monday’s show will be Christine Ticehurst, Administrator of the TreeVitalize program with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rachel Reyna, Chief of DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and Community Forestry Section and Michael Leff, of the Davey Institute, USDA Forest Service, Philadelphia Field Station.

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