Arizona State University, Trees Matter and UPS volunteers planted trees the weekend of Oct. 14 at Holdeman Elementary School to increase the urban tree canopy to 25% by 2040 as part of the Tempe Urban Forestry Master Plan.

The city of Tempe is experiencing hotter temperatures earlier in the spring, later in the fall and for more extended periods, a press release stated.  Increasing tree canopy cover to 25% leads to temperature reduction of 4.3°F and is a total cooling benefit of 7.9°F compared to a canopy-bare neighborhood.

The Tempe Urban Forestry Master Plan focuses on Tempe neighborhoods with minority and impoverished populations, high daytime temperatures and low vegetation, according to the release. 

Volunteers planted 13 trees at Holdeman Elementary, which included Chinese Elm, Red Push Pistache, Bonita Ash and Tipu. Project partners include Tempe District 3 Schools, City of Tempe, Trees Matter, ASU’s Heat Ready Schools, and University City Exchange.

“We planted a total of 20 trees this weekend (seven at Scales and 13 at Holdeman), a number that will more than double with our November events,” said Heat Ready Initiatives Project Coordinator Mary Munoz Encinas in the release. 

Heat Ready Schools, as she explained, recommend schools to increase shade cover and vegetative barriers, like trees or dense planting, to protect students from heat. By planting trees in schools, that action represents a long-term commitment to protecting those students from harmful sun exposure, according to Munoz Encinas.

“Schools in the Tempe School District 3 are Heat Ready Champions and participate in efforts that build resilience to extreme heat in their school communities,” she said. 

Heat Ready Schools have partnered with Trees Matter since the beginning of the program, participating in tree plantings for schools as part of its endeavors toward heat adaptation and mitigation.

Holdeman Elementary Principal Jeff Shores shared in the release, “The kids saw all the activity and the holes being dug and immediately asked, ‘Are these our trees?’ They’re taking ownership, each class will have a responsibility for a tree.”

This project was funded by UPS in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. As of 2021, UPS has engaged employees and planted trees in 6 continents, 36 countries and 47 states. 

With their new goal of planting 50 million trees by 2030, UPS will be focusing on underserved communities with a goal of bringing life-enhancing changes that will help communities thrive, the release stated.