FOR$IMMEDIATE$RELEASE:$JULY$21,$2015!
MEDIA&CONTACT:&!
Jessica'Jewell!
Email:'[email protected]!
Cell:%(949)%726"2533!
!
!
!
Statewide(Campaign(Launched(to(“Save(Our(Water(and(Our(Trees”(in(Drought!
TreePeople!and$other&NGOs&in#partnership#with#SaveOurWater.org#raise#awareness#to#save!urban&canopy!
LOS$ANGELES,"CALIF.!–!A"consor(um"of"urban"forest"and"other"concerned"urban"groups"across"California"are"releasing)a)simple)yet)urgent)message:)Save%Our%Water%and%Our%Trees."The$campaign$raises$awareness$for$the$poten&ally*millions*of*urban*trees*at*risk*in*our*state,*and*focuses*on*the*importance*of*keeping*them*alive*in*the*drought.!
As#Californians#cut#back#on#water#use#during#this#historic#drought#they#may#not#realize#the#impact#this#will#have#on#surrounding)trees.)Trees)in)irrigated)landscapes)become)dependent)on)regular)watering.)When)watering)is)reduced&–!and$especially$when$it’s$stopped'completely'–!trees%will%die.%Tree%loss%is%a%very%costly%problem:%not%only%in#expensive#tree#removal,#but#in#the#loss#of#all#the#benefits#trees#provide:#cooling#and#cleaning#the#air#and#water,#shading(homes,(walkways(and(recreation(areas(as(well(as(human&health&impacts.&!
“Now%more%than%ever%we%need%trees%to%protect%communi4es%from%the%effects%of%climate%change.%And%as%we%see%more%and%more%die,%we%lose%cri/cal%tree%canopy%coverage—canopy'our'ci+es'rely'on'for'a'resilient'future'in'the'face%of%rising"heat,”"said"Andy"Lipkis,"TreePeople"Founder"and"President."!
Trees!in#residents’#yards!can$and$must$be$saved$during$the$drought."What%you%can%do:!
1.!Deeply&and&slowly&water&mature&trees&1&"!2"times"per"month"with"a"simple"soaker"hose"or"drip"system"toward!the$edge$of$the$tree$canopy!to#within#1#foot#of#the#trunk!–!NOT$at$the$base$of$the$tree.$Use$a$Hose$Faucet$Timer&(found&at&hardware&stores)&to&prevent&overwatering.!
2.!Young&trees&need&15"gallons"of"water"2""!4"times"per"week."Create"a"small"watering"basin"with"a"berm"of"dirt."!
3.!Shower'with'a'bucket'and'use'that'water'for'your'trees'long'as'it'is'free'of'!non"biodegradable*soaps*or*shampoos.!
4.!Do#not#over"prune&tree&during&drought.&Too&much&pruning%and%drought%both%stress%your%trees.!
5.!Mulch,'Mulch,'MULCH!%3"!4!inches'of'mulch'helps'retain'moisture,'reducing'water'needs'and'protecting'your'trees.&&Do#not#pile#the#mulch#against#the#trunk.!
The$message$to$governments$and$public$agencies$is$that$great&communi-es&protect&their&trees."Communi)es"with"ample&tree$cover$are$healthier$and$more$prosperous.$Some$of$our$ci5es’$larger,$heritage$trees$are$literally$irreplaceable,*due*to*encroaching*u2li2es*and*other*urban*infrastructure*that*limit*the*plan2ng*area*for*new*trees.!
Save%Our%Water%and!Our$Trees$is$being$hosted$on$the$Save%Our%Water!website'at'www.saveourwater.com/trees,"with%many%tips%for%both%residents%and%agencies%on%how%to%water%and%care%for%trees%so%that%they%not%only%survive%the%drought,)but)thrive)to!provide(shade,(beauty(and(habitat,(clean(the(air(and(water,(and(make(our(cities(and(towns(healthier(and(more(livable(for(decades(to(come.(!
About&TreePeople:!
TreePeople,"a"42"year"old$nonprofit$organiza.on,$thrives$in$its$mission$to$inspire,$engage,$and$support$the$people$of#Los#Angeles#to#take#responsibility#and#par4cipate#in#the#vision#of#a#safe,#healthy,#fun#and#sustainable#city.#!
###!
