Local governments across the region are joining together to celebrate Arbor Day Across Tampa Bay, highlighting the importance of trees to residents and ecosystems. A package of marketing materials and messages that allows local governments to promote Arbor Day on social media was developed by representatives from Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties and the cities of Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg working with UF/IFAS Urban Forestry.
“Trees are critically important for comfortable neighborhoods, thriving wildlife, and maintaining water quality in our lakes, rivers and bays,” said Alana Todd, principal environmental planner for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. “Working together, we want to highlight the essential roles they play in our communities.”
The package includes information on how and why to plant trees:
- Trees may reduce temperatures in urban areas by 3 degrees through a process known as evapotranspiration. Trees that shade buildings may reduce the need for air conditioning by up to 10%.
- Nearly all wildlife, including birds, bees and butterflies, depends upon trees and other vegetation for food and shelter.
- Trees absorb excess rainfall, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding. They also filter fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste, minimizing their effects on surface waters.
- Besides the physical benefits of trees, many people have emotional connections to them. Some studies show that trees increase the property value of homes by four to 15 percent.
In Florida, Arbor Day has been observed on the third Friday in January since 1886, while other parts of the country celebrate it on the fourth Saturday in April. “Local governments in the Tampa Bay region can participate in either or both of those events,” Todd adds.
For more information or to download the marketing package, contact alana@tbrpc.org
Originally published Jan. 8, 2025