Texas Trees Foundation (TTF) and Oncor today launched an interactive online educational website designed to help both children and adults learn important facts to ensure their tree planting experience is a rewarding one.
“Trees are an important part of a community’s infrastructure,” said TTF President Janette Monear, “but the wrong tree planted in the wrong place can result in power outages, costly line clearance and even death.”
Texas’ leading tree steward said the need for new trees is continually growing. In 2011, more than 500 million trees died as a result of drought conditions in Texas.
“The loss of trees will have a negative effect on the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the energy we use,” Monear said. “It will adversely affect many aspects of our economy, environment, and health.”
The new TTF/Oncor interactive site is designed to help people as they begin to replant the urban forest. The site provides information, technology and access to resources to ensure newly planted trees provide maximum benefit while not interfering with utility lines.
“Trees offer a plethora of benefits,” Monear said. “From the shade that lowers energy costs to lowered C02 levels, reduced water runoff and increased property values. All those benefits rely on planting the right way in the right location. It is a matter that should not be taken lightly.”
The website integrates urban forestry information contributed by Texas Trees Foundation and Oncor. Urban Forestry e-learning material was contributed through a partnership between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, USDA Forest Service, Southern Group of State Foresters, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry South, and Warnell University. Also a fun, interactive tree planting game and a quiz that generates a printable certificate when passed. The overall website project was directed and managed by Dallas-based MODsocket.com – The Marketing Department for Small Business, in partnership with Atlanta-based Mediacurrent Interactive and Bluefever Media of Buenos Aires Argentina.
About Texas Trees Foundation
Texas Trees Foundation is a private nonprofit dedicated to creating healthy communities through tree planting, education, outreach and advocacy. Visit us at www.texastrees.org.