Evanston to Host Tree Summit June 22

Evanston will be hosting a tree summit to address the challenges and opportunities related to the city’s tree population on June 22 from 10 a.m. to noon, according to a press release. 

The city says maintaining the health of Evanston’s urban forest becomes a challenge every time an exotic disease or insect pest is introduced to the area.

The latest threat to Evanston's leafy streets and boulevards is the Emerald Ash Borer. The city has removed or slate for removal about 2,000 of Evanston’s 4,000 public ash trees due to the invasive pest, and it is expected that it is only a matter of time before the remaining ash trees will die.

Tree Summit: Save Evanston’s Urban Forest will be held at the Garden Center outside of the Levy Center at 300 Dodge Avenue or the Locust Room inside the center in the event of rain.

At the summit, residents will learn more about the negative impacts from losing so many trees, such as lowered air quality and carbon dioxide levels, and what steps are possible to maintain Evanston’s tree population. Community members will be given a chance to support an enhanced tree planting program and to take action together to save Evanston’s urban forest.

The summit is part of a larger fundraising and outreach initiative to raise $25,000 by the end of September to purchase 100 trees with all donations going towards buying and planting additional public trees.