Queens Is Included In Million-Tree Plans
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

In the last tree census, conducted by the Department of Parks for 2005- 06, 239,882 trees were counted in Queens. "Queens has more trees than any other borough," said Borough President Helen Marshall. "We love our trees, we love our tree-lined streets."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York Restoration Project (NYRP), plan to considerably add to that number. Bloomberg has declared April 2008 MillionTreesNYC Month.

Already host to Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25), April always brings thoughts of spring's arrival, and so, MillionTreesNYC joins in the celebration with its goal to plant and care for one million trees throughout the five boroughs by 2017.

"This is our first official planting season," said Darin E. Johnson, NYRP vice president of strategic initiatives, marketing and public affairs. NYRP expects to plant 3,000 trees this season, said Johnson.

NYRP was founded by entertainer Bette Midler, who first had the idea to plant one million trees, said Johnson in a presentation to the Queens Borough Cabinet on April 15. Two years ago, NYRP entered into a partnership with the city Department of Parks. "This is about more than just putting trees into the ground," Johnson said. "It's about education, awareness and advocacy."

Last year, on Earth Day, Bloomberg introduced PlaNYC, an initiative that included planting one million trees among its 127 goals. But, Johnson said, it is important that planting one million trees becomes more than a city initiative. "The mayor only has two more years [in office]," he said. "We want to get every New Yorker involved." Currently, 24 percent of the city is covered by trees over 44,000 acres. "That's 5.2 million trees," he said. One-half of those trees are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks, at a value of $5.2 billion.

The Department of Parks is planning to spend $400 million over a decade to plant 600,000 public trees, including city street trees, and reforestation of 2,000 acres of existing parkland. The other 400,000 trees are to come from non-profit and community organizations, businesses, developers, and citizens.

Under the MillionTreesNYC plan, six city neighborhoods with the lowest tree canopy (cover) and the highest rates of adolescent asthma have been chosen for the first trees to be planted. In Queens, Far Rockaway will come first.

Johnson said that as of October 2007, 50,815 trees had been planted. Between 60,000 and 65,000 trees have been planted to date. "We want to create an inherent respect for trees," Johnson said.

In October, 2007, the Million TreesNYC initiative began with a street tree planting in the Morrisania section of The Bronx. The Chief of the United States Forestry Service attended the ceremony.

Not far away, the new Yankee Stadium project has taken away 25 acres of parkland, including the destruction of 400 trees. The parkland is scheduled to be replaced when the new Yankee Stadium is completed, and new trees will be planted.

For information go to www.milliontreesnyc.org.