Why aren't more trees planted as new buildings and homes are built?

Question

Our apartment complex has a few trees but there are apartments that are in direct sun from early afternoon on. Trees are great for our environment, beautiful to see, great for birds, and great for people. Why don't we encourage government officials to put more trees on government owned land and property of "Hud" new homes? Why aren't more trees planted?

Answer 1

Because people are lazy. And in response to getting the government to do it...well good luck. Most people are trying to encourage them to limit their spending.

I agree with you though, it makes no sense to have so much open and unproductive space as is often seen in new housing developments.

Answer 2

I can't tell you exactly how much the CO2 intake is from an average plant, but i do know that every little contribution to the environment can help. Turn out lights, plant loads of plants, when you go on vacation, shut down the AC and Heater, etc. Buy power saving lights; they may be more expensive but they last longer, and besides what is money going to help us if global warming kills us all? But back to the initial question, you probably could make just as much of a difference by planting plants. I'd estimate that they take in maybe 10%-30%, but I have no clue. You should go to your local nursery for planting and ask an expert. They'll tell you all about different species of plant and a lot about how you can contribute. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I have three huge 40m tall trees at my house (and it isnt a big parcel of land)... and because I am on a corner block there are two large street trees around my property... Our local government has tree preservation requirements because it want to retain as many old trees as possible. What this has done is that it seems to stop people from planting trees.. anything higher than 3m needs a permit to lop.... it's a painful outcome from an excellent idea.. but now nobody plants trees so there will be a dearth of them when the old ones eventually die.

I love fruit trees. I haev a nashi pear and a peach tree that I have espaliar near the footpath for passers by to help themselves. I also have a large mango tree growing there.. no fruit yet... but maybe when summer comes..... I have a fig tree out the back (cause I don't want to share - love figs) and a nectarine and two cherry trees... three passionfruit vines.... I grow spinach and cabbage and herbs alongside ornamentals in my garden near the street path... I would love to pull up the lawn on the footpath and plant lots of nut trees and fruit trees and decoratively arranged vegetables.... but no.. instead there is turf. I sometimes have flying foxes visit the nectar in the three large gum trees... and possums live in them... as well as lorrikeets, rosellas and other parrots... and the occasional Kookaburra.

If we all grew fruit and nut trees on the footpath our kids might eat healthier. There is the danger that it will spread fruit fly and pests.... and feed vermin.

Answer 4

Great Idea! And, just last week the world and the World Bank have seen the value of saving the forest. The good part is that, like you wrote, trees are good for the environment, and this is true no matter where the tree is located.
The plan of the World Bank is to pay the people that cut trees, anywhere on earth, to stop cutting and burning the forest and the world will pay them some small amount of money per tree. This will conserve the rain forest and we may delay Global Warming enough to cut down to zero all carbon emissions from our cars and switch to mass transit.
Further good news, the price of gasoline will go up and this will help, or force us to, cut all carbon emissions.
A two punch plan First, stop cutting and burning trees using global sources of money and, second, cut back on the Carbon Emissions. This has the makings of a powerful plan.
Now, for the hard part, will we do it FAST enough?

Answer 5

Yes, my favourite subject Trees. Why aren't more trees planted? You get a star for asking this one, I would change that to Why aren't more fruit/nut trees planted? otherwise it would be perfect.

Imagine if every public building had fruit and nut trees surrounding them. If shopping centers were forced by planning legislation to plant a thousand trees and build wildlife ponds around their sites or on other customer selected brownfield sites. If people on large estates and in apartment complexes could benefit from the shade, the beautiful colours, blossom, free fruit and nuts.

It is being done. It is called Urban Permaculture. I can give you links.

Thank you for posing this question.

Answer 6

More trees of the local variety should be planted. If your govt. isnt doing it people should take initiative to do the same.

Just the reduction in cooling costs will justify the trees existence. Apart from that if you plant fruit and nut trees you get added benefits.

Just be careful in hurricane prone areas, surely there must be guidelines in such areas for tree plantations.

Answer 7

It's not because people are lazy.
Just like any other business housing has to do with supply and demand; with more people comes more housing and thus, less trees.
These trees are cut down and then put back if time, if they won't affect housing.
A shame isn't it? The trees were here first.

Answer 8

Like why arent arent homes built to take more advantage of the sun anyway? Haphazard like they dont care is really a waste of resources. These people really need to get a clue. One of the reasons there is such a waste of energy. It should be a law. Homes shall be built and laid out in a manner to enjoy the most benefits of the sun. Apparently builders are in cahoots with the electric company.

Answer 9

And, trees are great for reducing energy (cooling) costs. We have large trees around our house that block most of the afternoon sun.

Answer 10

Talk to your city council about it. The city I live in seems to always plant new trees w/ new buildings, and I beleive it's a standard practice here. We're a "tree city."