10 Million Trees Branching Across America

(NAPSA)-Trees are branching out all across America, 10 million of them. You've probably seen one without realizing it-in a park or along a beautifully landscaped highway. In fact, if the National Tree Trust lined up all the trees it planted since 1990, they would stretch from New York City to Los Angeles and back.

To celebrate the National Tree Trust's official 10 millionth tree planting, the Washington, D.C.-based organization coordinated a nationwide event aptly named "Branching Across America." The National Tree Trust and its army of volunteer groups planted a tree in each state capital city on the same day-November 21, 2002.

The locations varied as much as each city's landscape and history-at a park in Indianapolis, a school in Concord, an arboretum in Columbus and the State Capitol grounds in Phoenix.

"Including all 50 states in the celebration is appropriate because we wouldn't have made it to 10 million without the entire country's dedication to our cause," National Tree Trust President Richard Keefe said.
More than 500,000 volunteers have partnered with the nonprofit organization and close to one million students have grown their own trees through its programs.

"The nationwide event will also help raise awareness of the importance of trees to communities across the country, how trees benefit the environment and how they can enhance the beauty and property values of the areas where they're planted," Keefe added.

Indeed, trees are vital to the health of our environment. Over a 50-year lifetime, one city tree provides over $57,000 worth of benefits, from reduced air conditioning demand to erosion, storm water and air pollution control.

The National Tree Trust Web site now has individual pages for all 50 states, so people can look at the impact the organization has made across the country. To learn more or find out how you can help the National Tree Trust plant trees in your neighborhood, visit www.nationaltreetrust.org or call 1-800-846-TREE.

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