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merican Forests . www . amencanforests . org http ://www , amencanforests . org/news/print.php9id.= 19 7 4A Trees (or green infrastructure) help shade and cool residential homes during hot summer months , thereby reducing the amount_ of electricity needed to run air conditioners . AMERICAN FORESTS ' REA finds trees provide an estimated $ 1 . 86 million in annual energy savings for communities in the area . Reducing energy use also reduces the amount of carbon emissions by utility companies . Direct tree shading prevents approximately 140 , 000 tons of . carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere annually . One of the most interesting findings of the report is that the Portland region is , for the most part , either densely forested (21 % ) or open/agriculture land (75 % ) . There are few areas with moderate tree cover (4 % ) . Areas with heavy tree cover declined by 56 % , whereas areas with light tree canopy grew by 51 % during the study period . Losing tree cover reduces environmental quality and the overall health of a community . If the tree canopy of 1972 had been retained , an estimated 58 million tons of carbon would not have entered the atmosphere . The lost tree cover increased stormwater runoff that costs an estimated $ 2 . 4 billion to manage and would have removed 138 million pounds of pollutants annually , valued at $ 322 million per year . ' AMERICAN FORESTS recommends that most regions maintain a 40 % average tree cover . If the Portland region met that recommendation , trees would provide about $ 1 . 03 billion worth in pollution removal and 146 million tons of carbon would be stored a year . Lastly , the Regional Ecosystem Analysis recommends specific actions that local decision makers can take to increase the tree canopy of the Willamette/Lower Columbia Region . They include : utilizing CITYgreen and other tools in this study to incorporate a " green layer" in land development decision -making ; encouraging the use of increased tree cover as one strategy for meeting air pollution and stormwater management needs ; and continuing to work towards increasing and conserving tree canopy in metropolitan areas . Development is causing many of our cities to become cities of sidewalks , roads , and buildings ( gray infrastructure ) by removing trees ( green infrastructure) . This tree - loss trend has adverse environmental and financial effects and degrades the overall health and quality of urban , suburban , and rural environments . By conducting Regional Ecosystem Analyses in cities across the United States , AMERICAN FORESTS estimates 634 million trees are needed to bring America ' s urban areas up to 40 % average tree canopy . In recent weeks the organization unveiled a new national campaign called " Gray to Green : Reversing the National Urban Tree Deficit" that encourages people everywhere to plant trees to help improve the quality of our cities . AMERICAN FORESTS has the ability to conduct a Regional Ecosystem Analysis for any city or region in the continental United States . SEE ALSO : Portland REA Urban forests ' value measured b , study tudy Urban Trees Save City Millions By Handling Stormwater, Pollution Founded in 1875 , American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit citizen conservation organization . American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration , a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry , and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests . American Forests is on the World Wide Web at www . americanforests . org . of 2 11 / 1 /2001 11 : 08 AM