Massachusetts residents can get free trees to reduce energy costs
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Residents in Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, Medford, and Cambridge, Massachusetts can now request a free tree through several local programs.
The Mystic River Watershed Association is publicizing these initiatives, which aim to increase tree cover in Greater Boston communities. These communities often experience higher temperatures and have less tree coverage than others in the state, disproportionately affecting low-income residents and people of color. Trees offer benefits beyond aesthetics, including absorbing pollutants, reducing stormwater runoff, and providing wildlife habitat.
They also lower temperatures through shade, decreasing the need for air conditioning and saving homeowners money on energy bills. The Mystic River Watershed Association notes that residents identified trees as a desired improvement for their communities. MyRWA has already helped plant over 1,000 shade trees on public land and believes that planting on private property is essential to expanding tree cover further. Residents can visit www.mysticriver.org/trees to find the program serving their city and request a tree.
The watershed itself covers 76 square miles, encompassing 21 municipalities and approximately 600,000 residents.
