Sprucing up Rhode Island: RIDEM gives away over 2000 free trees – The Brown Daily Herald

This article is part of an Earth Month series exploring environmental issues, climate initiatives and community stakeholders throughout Providence and Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Donates Over 2000 Trees for Energy-Saving

Last week, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) donated over 2000 trees through the Energy-Saving Trees program. This collaboration, now in its eighth year, involves RIDEM, Rhode Island Tree Council, Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, and Arbor Day Foundation.

Tree Reservation Options

Interested participants had two options for reserving trees. They could either reserve one of the 1000 available trees for in-person pickup or request one of the 1200 trees available for home delivery.

Mission of the Program

The mission of the Energy-Saving Trees program is to help Rhode Islanders save energy and lower their utility bills by strategically planting trees on their property. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Interactive Mapping Technology

Arbor Day, in partnership with RIDEM, provides interactive mapping technology to help residents identify ideal planting locations. This technology ensures that the trees provide maximum energy savings through shade and windbreaks.

Arbor Day Foundation

Arbor Day Foundation, founded in 1972, is one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to planting trees. They plant and distribute over 10 million trees each year. The organization recognizes the importance of trees in addressing climate change and emphasizes their role in course-correcting this global issue.

Benefits of Trees

Trees offer numerous benefits beyond their aesthetic value. Robert Allard, urban and community forestry program coordinator for RIDEM, highlights carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, and mental health as just a few of the many benefits of having more trees.

Tree Species Available

Arbor Day secures tree species suitable for Rhode Island’s climate from local nurseries. This year, the available species for in-person pickup included paw paw, tree lilac, Kousa dogwood, Princeton elm, bald cypress, and tulip trees. For direct mailing, tree species included white flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, river birch, pin oak, sycamore, sugar maple, and black cherry.

Partnership and Funding

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) provided funding for the Energy-Saving Trees program. RINLA Executive Director W. Michael Sullivan explains that a significant portion of this funding goes to Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association (RINLA) because they are the source of high-quality trees for the program.

Impact of Trees

Planting trees not only saves lives and improves cities but also fosters a greater sense of community. Trees have a positive impact on individuals and the entire community, providing multiple benefits for both.

Registration and Demand

Registration for the program opened on April 12 and all available trees were reserved within two days. This high demand reflects the growing excitement and awareness around the importance of trees, particularly in the context of climate action plans.

About the Author

Maya Kelly is a Metro senior staff writer who covers health and environment. When she’s not at The Herald, you can find her hanging from an aerial silk, bullet journaling, or stress-baking.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of trees planted through the Energy-Saving Trees program.
• Percentage increase in renewable energy sources in Rhode Island’s energy mix.
• Number of accessible green spaces created or improved in Rhode Island.
• Inclusion of climate change measures in Rhode Island’s policies and planning.
• Number of trees distributed and planted by Arbor Day Foundation.
• Number of trees provided by Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: browndailyherald.com

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