Reforest Saint Paul
Summary:
I would use a million dollars to reforest Saint Paul by helping homeowners to remove and replace the ash trees in their yards. Most of Saint Paul’s 130,000 ash trees are going to be killed rapidly by emerald ash borers, stripping the city of its leafy canopy. About 100,000 of these trees are on private property—mostly in people’s yards. It’s going to
cost homeowners about $1,200 to remove each tree and another $100-up to buy each
new tree. That will be a real hardship for families with limited incomes, especially if they
have several ash trees. Without financial help, it’s unlikely these people will replace their
trees.
Why is this happening? Emerald ash borers are already destroying ash trees in parts of
Saint Paul; they were first found here in 2009. These wood borers have killed 50 to 100
million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and 16 other states since they arrived in our country
in the 1990s. In some of these states, millions of dead trees are still standing, blighting
neighborhoods and dropping limbs as they die, because people can’t afford to have them
cut down.
An estimated 30 percent of Saint Paul’s urban forest is composed of ash trees. Losing
that many trees is huge! The city is using state-of-the-art methods to fight ash borers
including stingless wasps and insecticides. Cities in the other states also fought to save
their ash trees, but so far, nothing has saved the trees. Saint Paul has a plan to replace
about 1,000 ash trees a year on public land. That won’t be nearly enough to keep our city
green.
About You
About You
First Name
Marge
Last Name
Hols
City
Saint Paul
County
Ramsey
Country
United States, MN
Website (if you have one)
Names of others who helped contribute to my idea
Mike Hahm
How did you hear about the Forever Saint Paul Challenge?
Leslie Cook, executive director, Saint Paul Parks Conservancy
About Your Organization (if applicable)
Organization Name (if applicable)
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
City
Organization Country
United States
Your idea
Title of your idea
Reforest Saint Paul
Give us the highlights of your idea for making Saint Paul great (2,000 characters maximum or approx. 250 words)
I would use a million dollars to reforest Saint Paul by helping homeowners to remove and replace the ash trees in their yards. Most of Saint Paul’s 130,000 ash trees are going to be killed rapidly by emerald ash borers, stripping the city of its leafy canopy. About 100,000 of these trees are on private property—mostly in people’s yards. It’s going to
cost homeowners about $1,200 to remove each tree and another $100-up to buy each
new tree. That will be a real hardship for families with limited incomes, especially if they
have several ash trees. Without financial help, it’s unlikely these people will replace their
trees.
Why is this happening? Emerald ash borers are already destroying ash trees in parts of
Saint Paul; they were first found here in 2009. These wood borers have killed 50 to 100
million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and 16 other states since they arrived in our country
in the 1990s. In some of these states, millions of dead trees are still standing, blighting
neighborhoods and dropping limbs as they die, because people can’t afford to have them
cut down.
An estimated 30 percent of Saint Paul’s urban forest is composed of ash trees. Losing
that many trees is huge! The city is using state-of-the-art methods to fight ash borers
including stingless wasps and insecticides. Cities in the other states also fought to save
their ash trees, but so far, nothing has saved the trees. Saint Paul has a plan to replace
about 1,000 ash trees a year on public land. That won’t be nearly enough to keep our city
green.
Website address (if applicable)
Innovation
What makes your idea different or unexpected? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
The dying ash tree problem is so new in Saint Paul that not many city residents are even thinking about it or planning for it. Reforest Saint Paul will alert homeowners to the financial Mack truck about to hit the city—and themselves. By city ordinance, they will be required to remove infected trees on their property. The million dollar grant will fund a pilot program to enable residents in neighborhoods that already have infestations of ash borers to start removing and replacing ash trees now.
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
How will your idea make a difference in Saint Paul? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
The loss of nearly one in every three trees in Saint Paul will have a huge negative impact on our quality of life if we don’t plant new trees. Reforest Saint Paul will spur city residents to take action to keep Saint Paul “The Most Livable City in America”. Trees are essential to a successful community. They provide structure, beauty and color to our landscapes and shade to our homes, yards and streets. They reduce noise and pollution. They also add financial value to our homes.
Sustainability
Why do you think people will recognize or remember your idea after it comes to life? How might it inspire others to do something similar in their community? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
People love their trees. Every time they look out the window and see their new trees leafing out, or sit in the shade under their trees, they’ll remember they received help to plant them. Reforest Saint Paul will appeal to many cities and to neighborhood groups. It feels good. It’s easy to understand, relatively uncomplicated to administer, and sure to produce green results and grateful citizens.
 | chantalchantelle2013 chantalchantelle2013 said: It is also a good way to help nature and it needs to be well passed. - YOR Health about this Competition Entry. - 2570 days ago read more > |
 | Marge Hols updated this Competition Entry. - 2854 days ago |
| Marge Hols updated this Competition Entry. - 2855 days ago |
 | Marge Hols submitted this idea. - 2856 days ago |
Take action: |
||
|
discuss |
share this entry |
|
|
Like this (0 likes) | ||