Statewide, Iowa — A group of scientists and researchers from 33 Iowa colleges and universities says trees can help Iowans deal with the higher temperatures and intense rainfall expected in the decades to come.
University of Iowa professor Heather Sander says trees and woodlands absorb a huge volume of water.
Sander’s research focuses on urban ecosystems and she says the cooling effect of trees helps reduce electric costs.
Iowa State University professor Jan Thompson says the derecho storms of August of 2020 and December of last year destroyed many mature trees in Iowa — the trees she describes as the hardest workers at addressing climate issues like heat and flooding.
Thompson says Iowans need to pick up the pace of planting new trees.
This is the 12th year the group of professors from around the state has issued a Climate Statement. Before planting a tree, the group recommends using I-tree software from the USDA’s Forest Service to find out which species of trees are best to plant in Iowa.
