LearnAboutTrees

Trees in cities, like those in A.C. Moore Garden, are more than decorative; they serve valuable roles in the urban environment by:

absorbing stormwater that might otherwise result in flash flooding,
cleansing the air of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, two major components of acid rain and smog,
moderating harsh weather conditions, like heat,
absorbing noise from traffic,
enhancing the economic value of property, and
providing habitats for animals and birds that could not survive in urban environments otherwise.

It is well established that urban areas often have higher temperatures than those of surrounding rural areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect. The intensity of the urban-rural temperature difference varies from city to city, and is largely a function of the size and density of the urban area. Click here to learn more about Urban Heat Islands.

In 2002 a weather station was added to the A.C. Moore Garden to measure some of the positive benefits of an urban forest. Check back on this page for updates on trees and weather conditions. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about urban forests, try some of the links that follow or explore the trees in the garden via our tree map below:

General information on the benefits of trees in urban environments: http://www.state.sc.us/forest/urbben.htm

or the National Arbor Day Foundation at: http://www.arborday.org

U.S. Department of Energy factsheet on the role of trees in reducing the urban heat island effect: http://www.eren.doe.gov/EE/buildings_urban.html - DOE on urban heat islands

Advice on selecting, planting, and caring for urban trees in South Carolina: http://www.state.sc.us/forest/urban.htm

U.S. Department of Energy factsheet on landscaping for energy efficiency: http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/landscape.html

The National Wildlife Federation promotes the creation and preservation of this type of backyard wildlife habitat. For more information on Backyard Habitats click here.

Would you like to identify a tree that you have seen somewhere else and learn more about how it grows?

Try the National Arbor Day Foundation's on-line tree identification field guide:

http://www.arborday.org/trees/ECstart.html

For teachers of students in grades K-12, this forest service web site offers many lab exercises about urban forests: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/urbanforestry/lab_exercises/table.htm

Prepared by Kim Buchanan.
Document URL: http://www.sc.edu/acmooregarden/LearnAboutTrees.htm