Trees also take carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas—out of the atmosphere. So planting one million new trees will
help us hit our target of cutting the city's production of climate-changing greenhouse gases by 30% by 2030.
Trees have many other benefits, too. Because they absorb rainfall, they reduce the storm water runoff that can
overload our sewers and flood our streets. Sitting in the shade of a tree can be a free, low-tech alternative to
energy-consuming air conditioning on hot summer days. And the natural beauty of trees pleases our eyes, lifts
our spirits, and improves our quality of life.
No question about it, planting one million new trees—40 times the number of trees now in Central Park—is
an ambitious goal. And in order to reach it, everyone is going to have to pitch in. Between now and 2017, the
Department of Parks and Recreation will plant 600,000 new trees in parks and along City streets; that's more
than five times the number of trees they've planted in the past ten years. We're counting on non-profit and
community organizations, businesses, property developers, and everyday New Yorkers to plant the remaining
400,000 trees. To support those efforts, the New York Restoration Project and the Mayor's Fund to Advance
New York City are seeking financial and in-kind donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
And I'm happy to report that last week the Home Depot Foundation put up $1.5 million in seed money for this effort.
New Yorkers have always embraced big dreams and big ideas—and that certainly describes our drive to plant
one million new trees. So learn how you can be part of Million Trees NYC. To make a donation, join a volunteer
group planting trees in parks and on public land, which is something volunteers from City Hall will be doing on
Randall's Island on Saturday, request a tree for your yard or block, or simply learn more about this growing
campaign, call 311, or visit the City's web site at nyc.gov. Find out how you can help make a tree grow in
Brooklyn—or in any other borough you like.
Other columns by Mayor Bloomberg:
For a Greener,
Greater New York
by Mayor Bloomberg
All over town, the trees of New York City are just starting to put on their annual fall fashion show and fill our parks
and streets with the rich colors of autumn. In the years to come, that show is going to get even bigger and better,
because last week we launched a major campaign to plant one million new trees throughout the city during the next
decade. We began that effort by planting a 12-foot-tall Carolina Silverbell on a block in the South Bronx. Entertainer
Bette Midler joined us for that event. She's the founder of the New York Restoration Project, an organization dedicated to
greening the city's neighborhoods. And she and her organization are playing a big role in our "Million Trees NYC"
initiative.
It's a major part of PlaNYC-our agenda for creating a greener and greater New York in the years to come.
There are a lot of ways that one million more trees will help us reach those goals. For one thing, tree leaves help
filter the air pollutants that trigger asthma and other diseases. Because of that, one million new trees will make
our air, and our lungs, cleaner—especially in neighborhoods where there aren't as many trees as there ought to be.
Inspiring China
Delivers Keynote Address at Newsweek's 2nd Annual Environmental Leadership Conference.
