By Paul Tuthill
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Springfield, MA – The US Forest Service is out with a preliminary report on the impact of the tree devastation caused by the June 1st tornadoes in western Massachusetts. The federal agency has partnered with the city of Springfield to develop a plan to restore tree lined streets for future generations. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
Its estimated that in the city of Springfield alone, ten thousand trees were lost on June first when a series of tornadoes, including one that was the second strongest on record in Massachusetts, tore a 39 mile long path of destruction. In the tornado impact zone, the loss of the urban tree canopy has led to a rise in average temperature and other negative environmental impacts.
David Bloniarz , a research scientists with the U.S. Forest Service says based on preliminary studies, the lost eco system benefits amount to 3 million dollars annually.
The forest service used municipal records of tree plantings, and post storm aerial photography to estimate the number of trees lost, and then looked at approximately 13 variables to measure the impact on the ecosystem. Bloniarz said among the variables are reduced water run off,, carbon storage, and temperature cooling of residential properties as it relates to the use of air conditioning.
The US Forest Service is encouraging municipalities and private property owners in the communities hit by the tornadoes to re-plant trees, not only for appearance, but to begin to mitigate the environmental damage.
Springfield City Forester Ed Casey says he is working along with arborists from the US Forest Service to identify places in the tornado zone where trees can be replanted.
The city lost about 35 hundred trees from parks and its tree belts along public streets. The majority of the tree damage was on private property and in woodland areas, according to Patrick Sullivan, the city's parks director.
Sullivan says the city is grateful to the neighborhood groups, various organizations and benefactors that have offered to help with the tree replanting effort. .
Planting a two to two and a-half inch diameter tree cost about 400 dollars. Serene Curley had a small Crimson Cloud Hawthorne tree planted in front of her newly repaired home thanks to a tree-replanting program funded by an 80 thousand dollar donation from PeoplesBank.
To encourage and coordinate tree replanting, the city , this week, launched website developed in conjunction with the US Forest Service called ReGreen Springfield. It has information about tree planting programs. People can make donations and request a tree planting.