Latest news with #UrbanForestry
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers discover unexpected benefit of new trend in lawn care: 'Can be a hotspot'
Researchers have made a surprising discovery about maintaining traditional lawns, showing that the less they're messed with, the better the food chain can become. reported on a new study from Cornell AgriTech that was published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening showed less intense management of lawns, like mowing and adding pesticides and fertilizers, has resulted in a greater diversity of organisms in the soil, meaning a stronger food web and overall soil health. Cornell AgriTech tested the campus lawn in high-, medium-, and low-maintenance categories over the course of two years, measuring a variety of factors. Hayden Bock, a postdoctoral scholar, noted they found 87 different types of soil organisms, adding: "It's hard to find 87 species of animals, or even insects, above ground in such a small area, but below ground, there's a wealth of biodiversity that people may not be aware of. Turfgrasses can be a hotspot for biodiversity, even in highly urbanized landscapes." Traditional monoculture lawns can be an option to provide green space and environmental benefits, but they don't necessarily make up for the benefits provided by native plants and yards. As ScienceDirect noted with the study, they "did not observe changes to soil microbial biomass or carbon or nitrogen decomposition, all aspects of soil ecosystem functioning which are mediated by soil fauna." They also mentioned that "turf aesthetic assessments" decreased with lower maintenance. Native plants provide a low maintenance and, more often than not, aesthetically pleasing way to manage your lawn. They provide better water and soil retention as well as storing excess carbon, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. Pollinators also thrive with native plants, as they provide food and shelter for bees, birds, and bats, and help spread pollen to plants, ensuring their growth cycles. The lower maintenance requirements are also a money saver, lowering water bills and fuel costs for lawnmowers. Some natural lawn options, like clover lawns, only need to be mowed twice a year. If you want to upgrade to a natural lawn, check out this guide here. If you were to switch from a grass lawn to a more natural option, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Making it look better Saving money on water and maintenance Helping pollinators No way I ever get rid of my lawn Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Major federal boost to Spokane's tree planting effort could be on chopping block
Feb. 7—As much as $48 million in federal grants slated to come to Spokane for various projects remains held up amid confusion over President Donald Trump's funding freeze put into place last week by executive order, including $6 million the city had started to spend planting trees, Mayor Lisa Brown confirmed Monday. The efforts of Spokane's Urban Forestry and Spokane County Conservation District to plant trees throughout the area had been turbocharged with $12 million in grants from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. This was a major boost to efforts that typically only had around $200,000 in investments from the city annually, city urban forester Katie Kosanke noted when the grant was announced in September. But that funding is on hold pending more direction from the White House, city officials learned last week from Stephen Baker, an urban and community forestry manager for the U.S. Forest Service. Baker did not respond to a request for comment. City officials worry that the funding might not come back to the city amid the Trump administration's moves against "diversity, equity and inclusiveness" programs, as the "tree equity" grant required planting in areas where trees were fewest and farthest between, with a focus on neighborhoods that had previously seen underinvestment. It remains to be seen whether this program might be in the White House's crosshairs, as the city and federal agencies seem to be receiving little direction on the pause, city spokeswoman Erin Hut wrote. Spokane's trees provide nearly $6 million in annual economic benefits, not just from boosting the aesthetics of the surrounding area, but also from storm water interception, air quality improvements and energy improvements, according to a 2021 study by the city, in partnership with the Spokane Lands Council and Gonzaga University. A more recent study by Gonzaga found that areas with significant tree canopy coverage can be dramatically cooler on hot summer days, which reduces energy usage from cooling systems and prolongs the life of pavement. But those benefits aren't distributed evenly in the city, with some neighborhoods having dramatically larger coverage from tree canopy than others, ranging from 44% of the surface area in the Grandview/Thorpe Neighborhood to 8% of the city's downtown. In order to ensure every neighborhood benefits, the city's Urban Forestry division wants to see 30% of the city's surface area covered by tree canopy by 2030. The city had only barely started to spend down the grant funds when the pause was announced. About $257,000 has been spent thus far on planting 168 trees and identifying 400 dead or dying trees that require removal and replacement. Other major federal grants haven't officially been put on pause but could be at risk, Brown added. This includes a $19.9 million "climate resiliency" grant awarded to the city and Gonzaga University in July to retrofit hundreds of homes with heat pumps and air filtration systems, improve community centers and other climate projects. This grant, also from the Inflation Reduction Act, was also targeted to "disadvantaged communities," and was part of a $40 billion program that constituted the "single largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history," according to the EPA. "That's another one that might fall into an 'at-risk' category," Brown told the City Council Monday. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated the $19.9 million EPA grant is on pause. It is at-risk, according to the mayor's office, but not officially paused.
