Reading for 2/20/2007

The article about the benefits of urban tress explained the value of trees to humans and the urban environment. The article stated what seems to be common knowledge in general areas, like having trees on ones property increasing the value of that property and that trees play an integral part in local climate control. Furthermore, trees give us benefits in health that we usually look for in pill form. Such as reduced stress, more productive and happier life experiences. The article finishes with what we can do to protect and keep trees healthy in our urban environments.

The article on treating trees as capital assets expressed a very interesting approach to managing trees and thinking of trees in economic terms and benefits. As I read the article i felt that trees were not trees anymore, meaning that presenting trees in this form or language seemed to lessen the natural beauty of trees. It is as if trees have been removed from nature to the domain of bureaucratic expenditures. If this is the way to keep trees healthy and extend their longevity in urban environments they must become part of our systems and budgets to make that possible. It might sound sad and unnatural to speak of trees in this manner but its about having a process that ensures that trees be apart of urban environments.