WHEREAS, National Arbor Day, April 28, 2017, is a day to celebrate the role of trees in our lives and to promote tree planting and care; and

WHEREAS, Expanding and caring for our urban forests year round provides a multitude of environmental, economic, and societal benefits; and

WHEREAS, A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen, thereby improving air quality; and

WHEREAS, Urban forests help capture stormwater, which results in savings in expenditures for stormwater treatment and flood control; and

WHEREAS, By shading and providing windbreaks, urban forests help consumers and businesses significantly reduce their energy bills in winter and summer; and

WHEREAS, Cities can be several degrees hotter during the day and up to 22 degrees hotter at night, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, which exacerbates health problems, including respiratory difficulties, and increases energy use; and

WHEREAS, Urban forests can offset the impacts of the urban heat island effect; and

WHEREAS, Urban forests support 60,000 jobs annually and add over $3.9 billion in value to the states economy; and

WHEREAS, The presence of green spaces and urban forests in communities has been shown to increase physical activity, reduce stress, and strengthen community ties by creating common spaces; and

WHEREAS, Our communities benefit when Californians provide service and stewardship to the communities where they live and work; and

WHEREAS, Care of our urban forests depends on hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours throughout the state; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly encourages Californians to help expand and maintain our urban forests in the areas where they work and live for the benefit of our environment, economy, and communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the chief clerk provide copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: April 27, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

Ken Cooley, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:HR 34

Author:(McCarty) – As Introduced Ver:April 26, 2017

SUBJECT: National Arbor Day

SUMMARY: Proclaims April 28, 2017, as National Arbor Day and encourages Californians to help expand and maintain our urban forests in the areas where they work and live for the benefits of our environment, economy, and communities. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. National Arbor Day, April 28, 2017, is a day to celebrate the role of trees in our lives and to promote tree planting and care. Expanding and caring for our urban forests year round provides a multitude of environmental, economic, and societal benefits.
2. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen, thereby improving air quality.
3. Urban forests help capture stormwater, which results in savings in expenditures for stormwater treatment and flood control and by shading and providing windbreaks, urban forests help consumers and businesses significantly reduce their energy bills in winter and summer.
4. Cities can be several degrees hotter during the day and up to 22 degrees hotter at night, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, which exacerbates health problems, including respiratory difficulties, and increases energy use. Urban forests can offset the impact of the urban heat island effect.
5. Urban forests support 600,000 jobs annually and add over $3.9 billion in value to the state’s economy.
6. The presence of green spaces and urban forests in communities has been shown to increase physical activity, reduce stress, and strengthen community ties by creating common spaces.
7. Care of our urban forests depends on hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours throughout the state and our communities benefit when Californians provide service and stewardship to the communities where they live and work.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800