Act boldly on reforesting efforts in Linn County

I'm truly hoping that the city of Cedar Rapids and Linn County will act boldly, with creative and dramatic responses to the Releaf project, and not act timidly with a less-than-powerful and imaginative response. The future of our children and grandchildren deserve dramatic action on our part, in addition to all of the natural world.

I frequently visit and hike in England and never cease to be impressed by the beauty and greenness of the English countryside - lots of hedgerows between the pastures and farm fields and many trees at the edges of farm fields and along the roadways. By contrast, Iowa is a treeless moonscape! A few trees as windbreaks around the farm houses and then nothing but bare expanses of treeless land. Farmers plowing as far as they can go and amputating every tree and bush in their way, just so that outer row of corn doesn't get any shade. This is pathetic land stewardship and a total disregard for the problem of climate change. Road crews that clear roadsides of all trees and woody vegetation, to ensure that every ride one takes results in views of boring emptiness.

Travel the stretch of Highway 13 between Marion and Central City - barely a tree to be seen anywhere! Why can't we plant trees along the highway and in the vacuum of nothingness in the large bare area between north and southbound lanes? Why can't we take empty bare city lots and plant fruit and nut trees that would not only provide beauty, but would provide free food for anyone that wants it? This has been done in many places around the world. Why can't we do it here? The city of Spokane is replanting the city with the goal of a total canopy cover of 40 percent. Why not Cedar Rapids? In Spokane, trees are being planted on both public and private property. Why can't we offer certain incentives to city dwellers to plant trees on their property? Why can't we provide incentives to Iowa farmers to not amputate every woody plant on their property and encourage them to plant trees for the future?

There is so much we could be doing, should be doing. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide this service free-of-charge. Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat the devastating effects of climate change. Let us not respond timidly to the challenges we face.

Floyd Sandford lives in Cedar Rapids.