We bask in their shade, admire their beauty, and can even swing from their branches. Trees are a vital part of the ecosystem. They improve air quality, harbor wildlife, and moderate the climate. What happens when their water supply disappears? In 2011, Houston lost millions of trees to the most severe drought in 44 years.
To help the city recover, LyondellBasell partnered with Trees For Houston as the sponsor of the 2012 Arbor Day Tree Planting event. More than 100 LyondellBasell volunteers and hundreds of additional community volunteers planted, staked and mulched 363, 15-gallon trees throughout MacGregor Park, one of the parks hardest hit by the drought. The trees were purchased through a grant from LyondellBasell.
“I have enjoyed being outside all my life and I want my grandchildren and my grandchildren’s children to be able to enjoy the great outdoors whether they are in the wilderness of Colorado or a park in the middle of Houston,” said Mike Pendley, LyondellBasell volunteer. “It will be great to drive by MacGregor Park in 10 years and know that I planted some of those trees.”
The company’s sponsorship and volunteer participation generated a significant environmental improvement at MacGregor Park, which had lost nearly 50 percent of its tree population. Not only an aesthetic improvement, these trees will also add desperately needed shade for park patrons and reduce the urban heat effect. Trees play a dynamic role in urban landscapes, and with help from LyondellBasell, Trees For Houston was able to help restore the beauty and scope of Houston’s urban forest canopy.