Climate change is resulting in our area becoming increasingly hotter with more frequent heatwaves. One of the best climate moderating options we have available to us (apart from the wonderful ocean breeze) is our tree canopy. Trees play a significant role in helping create liveable neighbourhoods and benefiting the health and wellbeing of our community.
Apart from trees being stunningly beautiful, they provide a number of significant environmental services. They protect us from climate change by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They increase biodiversity by providing food, shelter and protection from predators for many birds, animals and insects. They can reduce power bills and save energy as trees near buildings can reduce the demand for heating and cooling. They help reduce flooding and improve water quality by capturing large amounts of rain in their root systems and canopies, removing pollutants and re-directing water into the ground water supply. They reduce noise pollution by absorbing and blocking urban noise and they improve air quality.
Despite these benefits, Pittwater lost 13.2% of its canopy cover between 2009 and 2016 – the most significant canopy loss across NSW .
If you want to get involved in helping reverse the canopy loss in our area, check out canopykeepers.org.au
Image Courtesy of Australian Native Plant Society