A blizzard in New Orleans. It almost feels like an oxymoron, two things that aren’t supposed to go together. Yet early this year, before Louisiana and the rest of the country was plunged into the sticky heat of summer, this seemingly unlikely event became reality. And it’s not the only unusual weather event in recent memory. Last year, the typically rainy Washington State was struck by an unyielding statewide drought. In 2023, Death Valley — one of the driest places in North America — experienced two flooding events so severe that a temporary lake formed. These aren’t isolated incidents anymore. These examples, and many others, demonstrate a broader pattern of erratic weather. It’s proof of what science has already shown us. The extreme consequences of a changing planet stretch far beyond solely recordbreaking heat.
As global temperatures continue to increase, it’s showing up in places beyond the latest science and research. It’s an experience we can see and feel. Trees are an important part of making our communities more resilient as we face the challenges of the future. Please join us as we seek to plant at the speed of a changing world.
Planalto, an organization focused on sustainable reforestation, is based in Campeche, Mexico. Alongside the Arbor Day Foundation, the group is creating a network of forested corridors to support local wildlife.
Courtesy of Juan Carlos Garcia
BRIDGING HABITATS WITH GREEN CORRIDORS
In Campeche, Mexico, Juan Carlos Garcia made a haunting discovery after a wildfire swept through his land. Among the charred remains of the forest, he spotted a group of howler monkeys huddled on what he calls “a little island of trees.” Below them, their footprints marked the ash-covered ground — a dire sign, as monkeys rarely descend from their canopied sanctuary unless desperate for food and water.
This scene captures a wider crisis facing wildlife across the globe. As forests fragment due a variety of factors, animals find themselves trapped in isolated pockets of habitat, cut off from essential resources. But Garcia and his organization, Planalto, are partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to weave these broken pieces back together.
Their solution is biodiversity corridors created from nearly 10,000 trees. These living highways connect isolated forest patches, allowing animals to move safely between them. “We build these corridors as part of a system,” Garcia says. “Like planting a seed — we start small, but it keeps growing.”
The impact has been remarkable. As the corridors mature, they’re witnessing a resurrection of the local ecosystem. First came the small creatures — snails, fish, and frogs — forming the foundation of the food chain. Medium-sized animals followed, and then came the crowning achievement: the return of the jaguar.
This matters more than you might think.
In Mexico, the jaguar has a deep cultural history, once hailed as a deity by ancient civilizations of Mexico. To this day, the animal remains a cultural symbol. But as fewer than 5,000 jaguars remain due to habitat loss and poaching, each big cat serves as an “umbrella species.” By protecting jaguars, which need vast territories of 2,500 to 10,000 hectares to thrive, countless other species benefit from the preserved habitat.
When Garcia first started monitoring the land, jaguars were nowhere to be seen. Only smaller cats, like ocelots, appeared on their wildlife cameras. As the corridors grew, providing safe passage to the nearby river, the kings of the Mexican jungle returned. With them came an explosion of biodiversity – more deer, wild boar, and birds filling the renewed landscape.
Now, Garcia and his team are looking to expand these living bridges to neighboring properties. “We are protecting this area,” he says, “so it can be like a home again.” In the ashes of destruction, they’re building something remarkable: a future where wildlife can once again move freely through their ancient domains.
Read the full story at arborday.org/jaguar
Courtesy of Juan Carlos Garcia
HONORING 20 YEARS OF RECOVERY IN THE LOWER NINTH WARD
Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, left lasting scars on the Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood in New Orleans still grappling with the storm’s aftermath. Two decades later, vacant lots and a nearly destroyed tree canopy serve as reminders of the destruction caused by levee failures and widespread flooding.
While other parts of New Orleans have been rebuilt, the Lower Ninth continues to face challenges. Many residents are committed to returning the area to its former strength. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, nearly 150 volunteers planted 130 native trees in the neighborhood, helping restore the environment and boost community morale. Of these 130 trees, 40 fruit trees were planted on private properties to help address food insecurity.
“Hurricane Katrina changed the makeup of the entire community, and we lost everything,” says Tribble Condor, a lifelong resident of the Lower Ninth. “But having these new trees planted makes me feel like my neighborhood is coming back.”
Led by Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL), a local nonprofit partner of the Arbor Day Foundation, this effort is part of a larger mission to use trees for environmental restoration and resilience. From the massive deforestation caused by Hurricane Katrina to record-breaking heat waves, New Orleans is no stranger to extreme weather. Even as volunteers gathered to plant trees to combat the intensifying urban heat island effect, the city braced for a historic blizzard the very next day.
By planting water-loving species like live oaks, the organization helps mitigate stormwater runoff, reduce air temperatures, and cool the area by up to ten degrees, creating a healthier and more livable neighborhood.
“We’re not just beautifying,” says Susannah Burley, SOUL’s founder. “We’re helping prevent flooding and reduce energy bills.”
With the support of the Arbor Day Foundation, SOUL has planted more than 640 trees and engaged nearly 330 volunteers in these efforts. Using an opt-out approach, trees are offered to every house in the neighborhood with the intention of restoring the tree canopy block by block and ensuring balanced distribution of trees to anyone who wants them.
“Knowing how much trees can do individually, we realized that they could do so much more when we plant them as a system,” Burley says. “If you just sprinkle trees here and there, they can’t do their best work or achieve their maximum capacity.”
Trees are more than just part of the landscape. They improve physical and mental health, reduce stress, and increase community well-being.
The Arbor Day Foundation’s work has been supporting Gulf Coast recovery since 2005, and broader disaster-recovery work nationwide with more than 7 million trees planted.
Learn more about SOUL’s approach to restoring canopy in New Orleans’ neighborhoods at arborday.org/neworleans
PLANTING HOPE AND SHADE IN PHOENIX’S VILLA VERDE NEIGHBORHOOD
In the heart of Phoenix, where highways, industrial sites, and sprawling parking lots intensify the desert heat, a small but determined community is working to bring back something vital: shade. The Villa Verde neighborhood has long faced the challenges of extreme temperatures and poor air quality that come with being pocketed with lots of concrete surfaces, blacktop, and impervious surfaces. With little tree coverage, summer months become unbearable, and pollution from nearby traffic and industry lingers in the air.
Treelined neighborhoods can be up to ten degrees cooler than lower-canopy neighborhoods. That temperature disparity can be lifesaving at times as extreme heat unfortunately kills more Americans each year than all other weather disasters combined.
The Arbor Day Foundation partnered with Phoenixbased Trees Matter to plant more than 30 trees throughout Villa Verde in an effort to close the canopy gap for residents. Homeowners stepped forward, eager to welcome new trees into their yards, knowing the difference they could make. Volunteers worked alongside them, digging, planting, and ensuring each tree would survive and thrive for years.
The impact of these trees will extend far beyond their roots. In addition to shade, their leaves will help filter air pollutants, improving air quality. And perhaps most importantly, they will create a greener, more inviting space — a sign of investment in the health and wellbeing of the people who call this place home.
While the trees certainly help the neighbors of Villa Verde, their benefits extend out towards the greater Phoenix area to create a more connected canopy across the city. It’s a step toward a more resilient future, with each tree standing as a commitment to a cooler, healthier, and more vibrant Phoenix.
Read the full story and learn which trees can help cool your neighborhood at arborday.org/phoenix
3 WAYS TO KNOW YOUR TREE IS DEHYDRATED
As summer temperatures rise, your trees might be silently suffering. The scorching heat and dry conditions can be disastrous, leading to severe stress and even death if not addressed promptly. It’s crucial to watch for these three telltale signs that your trees are in trouble:
1 Wilting or Drooping Leaves. If your trees’ leaves start to wilt or droop, it’s a clear sign that your trees need water. This is often the first visible indication of dehydration.
2 Leaf Scorch. Brown, dry edges on the leaves, known as leaf scorch, indicate that your trees aren’t getting enough water to sustain all their leaves.
3 Early Leaf Drop. If your trees start shedding leaves earlier than usual, they might be trying to conserve water. Early leaf drop is a sign that your trees are stressed and need more hydration.
To help your trees recover, water deeply to ensure the water reaches the roots. Aim for the soil to be moist to a depth of about a foot. Also, apply mulch around the base of your trees to retain soil moisture and prune dead or damaged branches to reduce water needs. With these steps, you can help your trees recover and protect them from the harsh summer heat.
THE FUTURE IS COUNTING ON YOU
We all have a role to play in shaping a greener future. One with a thriving neighborhood tree canopy, vibrant forest ecosystems, and a healthier planet for future generations. This is a future that’s going to take all of us doing everything we can.
Here’s your moment to make an impact that will last well beyond your lifetime. With help from the Arbor Day Foundation, you can leave a legacy through trees.
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QUAKING ASPEN
Populus tremuloides
With shimmering leaves, striking white bark, and a golden crown in autumn, the quaking aspen is a true gem in any landscape. Its name comes from the way its leaves tremble in the slightest breeze, creating a lively and dynamic scene. The tree’s beauty is especially pronounced in autumn when its foliage turns a spectacular golden-yellow.
In the landscape, this medium-sized tree works well as a single specimen or in a grove, attracting songbirds, grouse, butterflies, and bees. It is adaptable to a range of soil textures, as long as the site is well-drained and not prone to flooding or compaction.
This tree thrives in hardiness zones 2 to 7 and grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet with a crown spread of about 25 feet.
To purchase or learn more about this tree and others, visit arborday.org/quakingaspen or scan this QR code.
We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at
Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!
