Cool communities announced in Oklahoma, Maryland - American Forests Cool Communities Program; Tulsa, OK; Frederick, MD

American Forests, Sept-Oct, 1992 by Ashley O'Neal

Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Frederick, Maryland, may not seem to have much in common, but they are teaming up with five other municipalities in an AMERICAN FORESTS pilot program to conserve energy and cool the urban "heat island."

The Cool Communities program focuses on environmental action to reverse a trend toward insufficient tree cover and above-normal temperatures, problems in cities around the country. The seven municipalities--which include Austin, Texas; Dade County, Florida; Tucson, Arizona; Sacramento, California; and Springfield, Illinois--are encouraged to save energy and reduce temperatures through strategic tree planting and light-colored surfacing.

AMERICAN FORESTS, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, will coordinate the program and help local advisory committees in each community implement practical, low-cost conservation measures. The local committees, which reflect a wide range of experience and views, are made up of representatives from citizen organizations, businesses, and government agencies.

The announcement of Tulsa's inclusion in the program met with enthusiastic approval from Mayor Rodger Randle. At the city's July kickoff, he said Tulsa was "thrilled to be selected as a model Cool Community." At Frederick's kickoff that same week, Mayor Paul Gordon was equally pleased: "The Cool Communities program gives us the opportunity to evaluate the health of our local environment and bring together many people to improve it."

On average, cities are three to nine degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas, and between 3 and 8 percent of national urban electricity demand is used to compensate for these higher urban temperatures. Frederick, the smallest city, has its peak energy use in winter, unlike the other communities, giving it a unique perspective in studying the urban heat island effect. Tulsa's climate--temperate in winter but hot and arid in the summer--is also unique among the seven model communities.

Neil Sampson, executive vice president of AMERICAN FORESTS, cites "a growing awareness of trees and high community involvement" in both Frederick and Tulsa as the "essential ingredients for making positive environmental change." Individual action is the cornerstone of the Cool Communities program, and residents of the seven model communities will plant trees, lighten surfaces, determine the resultant energy savings, and serve as examples for other communities developing similar projects. Individuals and families are especially encouraged to plant trees strategically around their homes, paint walls and roofs with light colors, and use light-colored asphalt or concrete when repaving driveways.

The coming of summer to Aspen, Colorado, coincided with the return of Jazz Aspen, a musical extravaganza that celebrates Global ReLeaf and planting and caring for trees. Four days of top jazz in an exquisite village setting were complemented by a tree planting in the Aspen Art Park with Grammy-award-winning members of the a cappella jazz gospel group Take 6.

In addition to Take 6, the four-day festival featured Dr. John, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Turtle Island String Quartet, the Jazznost Quartet, vocals by Diane Schuur and Stephanie Jordan, the piano work of Dave and Dan Ginsin, the saxophone of Ernie Watts, and more.

Earth stewardship was the theme Sunday morning when members of Take 6 joined Neil Sampson, AMERICAN FORESTS executive vice president, to plant six large aspens in the Art Park, across the path and around the hill from trees planted last year with the Modem Jazz Quartet.

Jazz Aspen unites musicians with lovers of music and the environment to focus attention on trees as a way to create a more harmonious world. In addition to tree-planting projects in ColOrado, the Jazz Aspen/Global ReLeaf partnership resulted in the first National Historic Jazz Grove, dedicated on Arbor Day in New Orleans' Congo Square, one of the places where jazz was born. - DAN SMITH

TESTIFYING FOR TREES

AMERICAN FORESTS' Executive Vice President Neil Sampson made two trips to Capitol Hill in June to testify on forest conditions before a House subcommittee. As a result, AMERICAN FORESTS was asked to draft legislation for a forest-health initiative.

At the first hearing by the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Forests, Family Farms, and Energy, Sampson offered comments on the U.S. Forest Service's new ecosystem-management policy for the nation's 156 national forests. At the second, he stressed the need to move beyond studies and reports and take immediate action to avert the high risks of major environmental, economic, and social disasters in unhealthy forests. He volunteered AMERICAN FORESTS' help in putting forth a plan of action.

* (For details on this subject, see this issue's Lookout column, "Pivot Point for Public Forests," beginning on page 13. --LANCE CLARK

AMERICAN FORESTS welcomed six new faces into the world of environmental conservation over the summer. The interns converged on the nation's capital to put their talents and enthusiasm to work for trees and forests.