A Million Trees For The 'Dirtiest Big City'

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City of Los Angeles have partnered with numerous non-profit groups in Southern California to fund the purchase and planting of one million trees over the next several years. L.A. is far below the national average for ground area covered by trees, and the city hopes this effort will not only beautify the city, but also counteract the city's high carbon emissions due to auto traffic.

"The campaign will continue over the next several years to capitalize on trees' air-cleaning, shade-producing benefits. Organizers, including Board of Public Works Commissioner Paula Daniels, whom Villaraigosa asked to spearhead the project, expect about half the trees will be planted on public sites or right-of-ways. They are hoping thousands of residents will add trees â€" ones they receive free from the city or some they buy â€" to their yards and report the plantings."

"A survey by the U.S. Forest Service confirmed that Los Angeles is indeed tree-challenged: On average, just 18% of ground in the city is shaded by trees (the average for cities is 27%). Some parts of the city â€" especially impoverished neighborhoods â€" have much less. Only 5.32% of Council District 15, which stretches south from Watts through the Harbor Area, is covered by tree canopy."