From more frequent wildfires to longer heatwaves and droughts, communities across Colorado already experience the impacts of human-induced climate change. According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, these disasters will grow more devastating unless action is taken now. To heed this notice, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (C.H.U.N.) has formed the C.H.U.N. Climate Crisis Committee.
Throughout its 50 year history, C.H.U.N. has worked to improve the quality of life in Greater Capitol Hill. The formation of the committee is a continuation of this goal and recognizes the need for local neighborhoods to think globally and act locally. “Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is committed to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community. From planting trees to promoting cleaner transit options, the Mile High City can--and should--be a model for urban, earth-friendly policymaking” says the organization’s board president Travis Leiker.
The committee’s formation represents the next phase of the foundation established by C.H.U.N.’s longstanding Tree Committee as well as other previous environmental sustainability work. The committee will be co-chaired by C.H.U.N. board of delegate members Jim Slotta, a founding member and president of Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action, and Stephen Polk, assistant professor in environmental studies at Naropa University in Boulder.
“The Climate Crisis Committee will convene a community-based dialogue around the urgent, worsening climate crisis and will promote a planet-helpful lifestyle among residents in C.H.U.N.’s neighborhoods,” says Slotta. “Denver has tremendous opportunities to experiment with creative solutions in combating climate change that involve wide swaths of neighborhood stakeholders,” adds Polk.
Topics that the committee will address include water conservation, recycling, composting, renewable energy, and more.
Throughout its 50 year history, C.H.U.N. has worked to improve the quality of life in Greater Capitol Hill. The formation of the committee is a continuation of this goal and recognizes the need for local neighborhoods to think globally and act locally. “Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods is committed to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community. From planting trees to promoting cleaner transit options, the Mile High City can--and should--be a model for urban, earth-friendly policymaking” says the organization’s board president Travis Leiker.
The committee’s formation represents the next phase of the foundation established by C.H.U.N.’s longstanding Tree Committee as well as other previous environmental sustainability work. The committee will be co-chaired by C.H.U.N. board of delegate members Jim Slotta, a founding member and president of Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action, and Stephen Polk, assistant professor in environmental studies at Naropa University in Boulder.
“The Climate Crisis Committee will convene a community-based dialogue around the urgent, worsening climate crisis and will promote a planet-helpful lifestyle among residents in C.H.U.N.’s neighborhoods,” says Slotta. “Denver has tremendous opportunities to experiment with creative solutions in combating climate change that involve wide swaths of neighborhood stakeholders,” adds Polk.
Topics that the committee will address include water conservation, recycling, composting, renewable energy, and more.
EMERALD ASH BORER: You have likely heard that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an insect that has devastated ash tree populations in mid-western cities, was discovered in Boulder in September.
With 15% of Denver’s tree cover consisting of ash trees (some 330,000 trees), the detection of this insect in Colorado raises serious concerns about the future of our urban forest. EAB kills weak and healthy trees, young and mature, and all major North American ash species.
This makes it one of the most serious threats facing North American forests today – a threat that presents staggering ecological and economic impacts far exceeding Dutch Elm Disease. Ironically, this destructive pest was found in Colorado in the same year that Denver was named one of the top ten U.S. cities for urban forests.
Also this year, a study by the US Forest Service found that Denver’s trees provide $122 million in property value benefits and ecosystem services, like stormwater management.
Because trees take time to grow, it’s critical that we fill in the existing gaps in our tree canopy now so that as we lose ash trees in the coming years, new trees will already be growing to serve those important functions for our community. Here is some key information we’d like to share with you:
Thank you to The Park People, for providing EAB information and bringing this light for Denver neighborhoods.
With 15% of Denver’s tree cover consisting of ash trees (some 330,000 trees), the detection of this insect in Colorado raises serious concerns about the future of our urban forest. EAB kills weak and healthy trees, young and mature, and all major North American ash species.
This makes it one of the most serious threats facing North American forests today – a threat that presents staggering ecological and economic impacts far exceeding Dutch Elm Disease. Ironically, this destructive pest was found in Colorado in the same year that Denver was named one of the top ten U.S. cities for urban forests.
Also this year, a study by the US Forest Service found that Denver’s trees provide $122 million in property value benefits and ecosystem services, like stormwater management.
Because trees take time to grow, it’s critical that we fill in the existing gaps in our tree canopy now so that as we lose ash trees in the coming years, new trees will already be growing to serve those important functions for our community. Here is some key information we’d like to share with you:
- We do not want ash tree owners to panic or take any premature, uninformed action.
- EAB has not yet been found in Denver. The Denver Forestry Office is actively sampling ash trees. Once EAB is found in Denver locations, a mix of treatment and removal management techniques will be used.
- At this point, ash tree owners should get educated about the options. Decisions to remove or treat a tree should be made on a case-by-case basis. Treatment may be a good choice in some cases.
- Treatment is NOT recommended until the pest has been found within 5 miles of the tree.
- The Denver Forestry Office will be reluctant to approve the removal of healthy, sizable (>6″ diameter) ash trees in the public right-of-way (street trees; for which a City removal permit is required). A treated tree could continue to provide a wealth of benefits for decades to come, and the cost of removal and replanting can be significant.
- Visit the State’s Emerald Ash Borer site, www.eabcolorado.com, to learn more about the pest, treatment options, and how to identify ash trees.
Thank you to The Park People, for providing EAB information and bringing this light for Denver neighborhoods.
