Mayors launch the Million Trees plan

Salt Lake County is branching out, with a goal of planting 1 million trees in the next 10 years.

Mayors from across the county on Thursday launched the Million Trees for a Million People campaign. The plan is to plant 100,000 trees on public lands and offer incentives to county residents and private companies to plant the other 900,000 trees.

"It's a big undertaking, but we think we can do it," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said. "In the end we will have a beautiful green canopy over Salt Lake County that we can all be proud of."

Rocky Mountain Power pledged $25,000 and the state chipped in another $10,000 to help fund the first year of the program.

To track the tree-planting process, the county will launch a Web site later this month, www.milliontreesslco.org, where people can input where they planted and what type of tree was planted.

"We can't do this alone," said Ann Ober, the county's environmental policy coordinator. "We really need each and every one of you to accomplish this goal."

County leaders will also use the Web site tree-tracking system to calculate the energy savings the trees are providing the valley.

The million-tree goal in 10 years is ambitious, county leaders admit. After all, Denver has a similar program but wants to plant the same amount of trees by the year 2025.

But "you can't accomplish anything if you don't try," Ober said.

So why the focus on planting so many trees? Trees provide natural cooling to homes, businesses and public buildings, and they capture, filter and absorb rainwater. They reduce greenhouse gases, absorb and intercept air pollutants and enhance property values.

Plus, trees can reduce your energy bill. By planting a tree on the west side of your home, your energy bill will drop 3 percent in five years, or 12 percent in 15 years, according to the Center for Urban Forest Research.

"To build livable communities, we need sustainable living forests," said Mike Marett, president of the Utah Community Forest Council. "We've got a big chore ahead of us."

But it's not just about planting trees. It's "putting a million of the right trees in the right places," Marett said.

The Web site to track trees will also include tips on planting trees, Ober said.

The program will also include tree-planting events, where people can learn the tricks of the trade. Sandy is planting 200 trees and 600 shrubs at a city park on Oct. 13.

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