VINCENNES, Ind. - In celebration of Indiana’s Arbor Day on April 26, tree seedlings were distributed to fourth grade students at all Knox County elementary schools.  Now in its 33rd year, the project is sponsored by Vincennes University with support from Niehaus Lumber Company, the Vincennes Sun-Commercial, and VU's Old Post Bookstore.

More than 450 individual Eastern Redbud seedlings were packaged by members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program on April 23. The roots of each seedling were wrapped in a paper towel, dipped in water, and placed in a plastic sleeve to keep the roots moist and healthy.

Vincennes University has sponsored the project annually since 1987 to promote the planting of trees as a way to improve the environment and demonstrate community pride. 

Since the beginning of the program, it is estimated that more than 32,000 tree seedlings have been distributed, including Bald Cypress, Cherrybark Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Green Ash, Northern Red Oak, Overcup Oak, Red Oak, Redbud, Roughleaf Dogwood, Sawtooth Oak, Swamp Chestnut, Tulip, White Pine, Willow Oak, and Yellow Poplar.

Each student also received information about how to plant the seedlings as well as the effectiveness of landscaping for energy conservation.  Seedlings were distributed to fourth graders at Flaget, Franklin, North Knox Intermediate, Riley, South Knox, Tecumseh-Harrison, and Vigo. Seedlings were also provided for the Civitan Children’s Center.

TREE FACTS www.arborday.org

Trees remove pollution from the atmosphere, improving air quality and human health.
Roadside trees reduce nearby indoor air pollution by more than 50%.
A study of 10 cities found community forests save an average of one life each year. In New York City, trees save an average of eight lives every year.
Office workers with a view of trees report significantly less stress and more satisfaction.
One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people.
More than 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest
Forested watersheds provide quality drinking water to more than 180 million Americans.
In 1997, New York City spent $1.5 billion to preserve the forested watershed that supplies its drinking water by purchasing thousands of upstate acres of forested watershed. A filtration plant large enough to clean New York City’s water supply would have cost more than $6 billion dollars.
Trees lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade. Shaded surfaces may be 20-45°F cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials.
Trees cool the city by up to 10°F by shading our homes and streets and releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air.
In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
During one year, a mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in exchange.
Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20-50% in energy used for heating.
Carefully positioned trees can reduce a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25%. Computer models devised by the U.S. Department of Energy predict that the proper placement of only three trees can save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually.
Every dollar spent on planting and caring for a community tree yields benefits that are two to five times that investment - benefits that include cleaner air, lower energy costs, improved water quality and storm water control and increased property values.

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Vincennes University Newsroom

VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
   812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, vpuffer@vinu.edu
MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
   812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom