Central State gets $1.2 million to plant trees in cities, educate about their care

The project is also focused on researching the effects of air and soil quality when more trees are planted and working closely with the community to take care of the trees and collect research information. Other professors involved in the project include research associate professor of soil science and agronomy Sakthi Kumaran and research associate professor of entomology Hongmei Li-Byarlay.

Nagle said the project grant is for three and a half years. It is funded by a stewardship agreement from the U.S. Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act and was awarded through the 1890 Foundation.

Nagle said it was important to engage the community in this project, since other forestry projects have found that simply planting trees in an area doesn’t mean they will be taken care of.

“So often the model is just to come and plant a tree, and then just to effectively leave it up to nature to decide whether it lives or not,” he said.

In discussions with local experts and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Nagle said the groups have found engaging the community can help ensure the success of the trees long-term.

What is urban forestry?

Urban forestry is the formal name for the work done with trees that grow near homes and businesses in areas like Dayton and Xenia.

Trees help divert water that would otherwise flood stormwater drains into their root system. Trees also absorb pollutants, give off oxygen and provide habitats for animals that live in the city.

Improving tree cover within the city can help reduce stress, improve physical and mental health and decrease crime rates.

Li-Byarlay said more trees can have a big impact on bees, butterflies and birds. The project will focus on pollinator trees, Nagle said.

“In cities, there aren’t always a lot of wild spaces,” Li-Byarlay said. “But adding trees gives pollinators more places to live, rest and find food.”

Areas with more trees can also reduce heating and cooling costs for buildings, according to Central State officials.

Urban areas with inadequate tree cover can experience poor air quality and lack of shade and are more vulnerable to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Having a diverse amount of trees in the area can also help keep the community healthier.

“Urban and community forest diversity is especially important to minimize the spread of tree pest and diseases,” said Kumaran. “We all are well aware of what Dutch Elm Disease and Emerald Ash Borer did to our trees in our streets.”

Other programs

Central State is not the only local organization trying to increase the number of trees in the area.

The Montgomery County Land Bank, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, offers free trees to homeowners and renters who live in areas of “inequity.” More information is available on their website or by calling 937-531-6921.

Last summer, the city of Dayton received a $2 million federal grant from the Forest Service to pay for an urban tree inventory and tree canopy assessment.

Five Rivers MetroParks also was awarded more than $1.4 million from the Forest Service to assess tree and forest inventories, remove invasive plant species, and to plant native trees and shrubs to expand the urban canopy at Spring Run Conservation Area and Possum Creek MetroPark.

Staff reporter Cornelius Frolik contributed to this story.