Why are Trees so Cool?

June 6 | 10-11:30 a.m. | $10 in-person $5 virtual

The green tree canopy of Fort Collins stands out markedly against the surrounding Front Range landscapes. These trees bear witness to the sustained stewardship provided by residents for over 160 years to make our urban canopy a hallmark of the city.
These trees provide innumerable benefits that improve urban environments. Trees clean the air, intercept, and conserve water, provide food and habitat for wildlife, cool hot urban temperatures, and build climate resilience. This course will begin with an overview of the City's new Urban Forest Strategic Plan: an ambitious 20-year plan for managing our urban forest into the future and bringing the benefits of trees to people where they are needed most. It will then dig into the cooling effects of trees, how they do it, and how we can ensure effective cooling even as climate continues to change. Participants will leave this course with an understanding of how they can promote the cooling effects of our urban canopy right in their own backyards.

Instructor: Shelley Crausbay and Freddie Haberecht

Classification: Gardening/Hort