Climate Impact Corps member compiles report used to guide planting of nearly 10,000 trees
One of Climate Impact Corps’ goals is to create a more equitable future as our climate and environment change. Guided by Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework, members are placed at local organizations to support ongoing efforts to build climate resilient communities. One Climate Impact Corps member used his decades of writing experience to compile a report that will help plant nearly 10,000 trees!
Phil, a Climate Impact Corps member who is currently serving at Great River Greening, wrote about economics for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis for 14 years before he retired. He’s had a passion for our environment since he was a teenager, volunteering at Great River Greening for 20 years before joining their team as a Climate Impact Corps member.
“I grew up all over the world. I lived in England, Australia, New Guinea, the American Virgin Islands. I spent much of my early life traveling,” Phil says. “That exposed me to a lot of different environments, and I really came to care about them. When I came to Minnesota, that interest remained. Whenever I could, I would write about the economics of controlling climate change.”
Phil’s service
As a Climate Impact Corps member at Great River Greening, Phil has been supporting their equitable tree planting efforts in a new program. Partnering with cities, school districts, and environmental organizations across Minnesota, Great River Greening aims to plant and maintain up to 10,000 trees in the next five years, focusing on communities with limited tree canopy.
To help Great River Greening recommend which trees to plant, Phil compiled a 10-page report detailing the latest research on climate-resilient trees.
“I found that some species are just naturally more tolerant or more adaptive to increased heat and drought," says Phil. Before diving into his research, he also learned about different tree species and varieties in his Climate Impact Corps training, which he said came in handy during the process.
“This project was to bring everybody up to speed on selecting climate-ready trees – why it's important, the pace of climate change. What was eye opening to me, when you look at the forecasts, is just how rapidly change will come upon us,” he says.
Predicted outcomes for Minnesota
Below are maps from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Sustainability and Climate that Phil consulted for his research. They project changes in Minnesota’s heat zones through the rest of the 21st century, assuming greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. Heat zones are determined by the number of days a region experiences temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The color values illustrate how many “heat days” are forecast in an area, ranging from zero to 210 or more.
Historical (1980-2009)
2010-2039
2040-2069
2070-2099
By 2040, almost all of Minnesota is expected to see at least 45 days over 86 degrees. By 2099, most areas will see up to five months of these temperatures. This weather is similar to what present-day Louisiana faces during high-heat levels.
“The Minnesota landscape will be transformed by the end of this century, and it's going to make life more difficult for people, trees, and wildlife,” Phil says. “In cities, this is going to make it even harder for communities who don't have a lot of tree canopy cover. They don't have a lot of greenspace and shade, and climate change will only make it worse. But we can take steps now to mitigate those impacts.”
On average, temperatures in urban areas with trees are almost three degrees cooler than in areas without. Shade lowers air temperatures and decreases the heat island effect, which occurs when roads, buildings, and other infrastructure – concentrated in pockets, or islands – absorb heat and return it to the air.
Service makes an impact
Phil’s report will help guide directors at Great River Greening as they select trees for the Cooling Minnesota Communities program. Phil has also inventoried tree nurseries in Minnesota and other states to check species availability for the fall, when planting is scheduled to begin.
Phil and other Climate Impact Corps members provide an important boost to organizations like Great River Greening. The added capacity means more power to get things done and make a positive impact on our environment for years to come.
“As they say, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago,” says Phil. “The next best time is today. Climate change is already starting to bite, so let's get serious about planting trees that are going to survive and help the urban forest become more resilient.”
If you or someone you know are interested in supporting our environment and creating resilient communities, join Climate Impact Corps! Visit Ampact.US/environment to learn more. Apply now to begin service in July.