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Certified arborist urges Struthers to expand tree canopy, offers inventory and funding ideas
Summary
At a Struthers City Council community development meeting, certified arborist Charles Swattell outlined benefits of expanding the city's tree canopy, recommended a citywide tree inventory and suggested a memorial tree fund and leveraging Tree City USA status to attract grants.
Charles Swattell, a certified arborist and master gardener, told the Struthers City Council at its community development meeting that the city’s tree canopy is well below recommended levels and urged officials to begin a citywide tree inventory and a planting program.
Swattell said Struthers’ canopy “sits at less than 10%,” and said the standard target is about 30% of a city under tree canopy. He described multiple benefits of urban trees, including cooler surface temperatures, reduced stormwater runoff and mental-health benefits, and he outlined practical steps for planting and maintenance.
Swattell said the city “has a lot of pavement and concrete” and described the urban-heat-island effect, adding…
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