Who We Are
Treetrust is a non-profit registered charity committed to identifying and preserving mature trees in Ontario, thus sequestering carbon in the roots, trunk, and branches of these trees. Affiliated with the Elora Environment Centre.
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What We DoWe employ local certified arborists to assess and maintain candidate trees to extend their life. When possible, two saplings are planted nearby to take over when the mature tree eventually must be removed. The cost to maintain mature trees and plant new ones can be well over $1,000 - your donations are extremely valuable. |
How To ContributeThe website tool helps to calculate your contribution to offset air and auto travel. In lieu of travel, you can also simply make a donation to offset your lifestyle carbon footprint. Tax receipts will be issued, and donors will be informed about the location of the trees receiving treatment. |
About Carbon
Through photosynthesis, plants and trees fix carbon from the air and incorporate it into structural and physiological molecules. On average, trees are 50% carbon by weight, so trees incorporate more carbon each year as they grow. When trees die, the carbon is slowly released back to the soil as the dead tree decomposes or released to the atmosphere if the wood is burned.
The Ideal Canopy
A 40% canopy cover is ideal for cities and can be achieved if 52% of the available plantable space becomes canopy cover. Industrial, institutional, commercial, parkland and low-density residential
are prime targets for future planting efforts due to their large plantable space areas and low relative canopy cover.
Jessica Brommer, University of Guelph thesis 2011
Ecological Services of Trees
Ecosystem services are benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. These are:
regulation (regulation of climate and air quality, water purification, pollination), provisioning (food production, biomass, freshwater, mineral resources), support (nutrient cycling, primary production, soil formation), cultural services (recreation, aesthetic views, cultural heritage).
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and Human Well-being. Washington, DC: Island Press; 2005
Take charge of your carbon emitions from travel and improve the environmental sustainability of your community