Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) celebrated Arbor Day by introducing The Residential Energy and Economic Savings Act, otherwise known as TREES Act. This legislation would establish a grant program to assist electric utilities with energy conservation programs that...
Research
San Jose’s Trees Boost Economy by $239M Annually
by California ReLeaf | Apr 25, 2013 | Network, Research, Updates
A recently completed study of San Jose's urban forest revealed that San Jose is second only to Los Angeles in impervious cover. After mapping San Jose's trees from the air using lasers, researchers discovered that 58 percent of the city is covered with buildings,...
Take a Walk in the Park
by California ReLeaf | Apr 11, 2013 | Research
A recent study from Edinburgh used new technology, a portable version of the electroencephalogram (EEG), to track the brain waves of students walking through different types of environments. The objective was to measure the cognitive impacts of green space. The study...
Take a Walk
by California ReLeaf | Apr 3, 2013 | Research
Today is National Walking Day - a day designated to encourage people to get out and walk in their neighborhoods and communities. Trees are an important part of making those communities walkable. A ten-year study in Melbourne, Australia has found that the...
Wood Utilization Options for Insect-Killed Urban Trees
by California ReLeaf | Mar 12, 2013 | Research, Updates
Washington, DC (February 2013) – The U.S. Forest Service has released a new handbook, “Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species,” to provide guidance on best uses and practices for dead and dying urban trees infected by invasive insects in...
Nature is Nuture
by California ReLeaf | Feb 27, 2013 | Research
As a parent of two young children, I know that being outdoors makes for happy children. No matter how crabby or how testy they are indoors, I consistently find that if I take them outside they are instantly happier. I am amazed by the power of nature and fresh air...
A Challenge to California’s Cities
by California ReLeaf | Feb 11, 2013 | Advocacy, Research, Resources
Last week, American Forests announced the 10 best U.S. cities for urban forests. California had one city on that list - Sacramento. In a state where over 94% of our population lives in an urban area, or roughly 35 million Californians, it’s deeply concerning that...
Greenspace Can Make Your City Great
by California ReLeaf | Feb 8, 2013 | Research, Resources
Check out this great infographic from the TKF Foundation. We think it makes it pretty obvious why we need more trees.
The Physics of Trees
by California ReLeaf | Jan 17, 2013 | Research
Have you ever wondered about why certain trees only grow so tall or why some trees have giant leaves while others have small leaves? Turns out, it's physics. Recent studies at University of California, Davis, and Harvard University published in this week's...
The Relationship Between Trees & Human Health
by California ReLeaf | Jan 16, 2013 | Research, Resources
The Relationship Between Trees and Human Health Evidence from the Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer Background: Several recent studies have identifıed a relationship between the natural environment and improved health outcomes. However, for practical reasons,...