Local arborist addresses ‘Trees: An Environmental Investment’

Project GREEN Second Sunday Garden Forum - March 10

Trees are a true asset and one of the best investments a homeowner can make to increase the value of their property. Planting trees should be a priority to help offset climate change and benefit the environment.

Trees remove air pollutants and help protect us from the devastating effects of climate change by sequestering, or storing, carbon dioxide. These remarkable characteristics are why trees are often referred to as the “lungs of the planet” – because they provide so much oxygen to life on Earth.

Geoff Mouming, Project Manager for Restoration Services with Impact7G Natural Cultural Resources Division and an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, is an admitted, unapologetic tree hugger. He readily concedes that tree selection isn’t an art form but it does take purposeful planning to select the right tree for your specific landscape. He will speak on Trees: An Environmental Investment. The presentation is final Project GREEN Second Sunday Garden Forums 2024 on March 10, at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.

The forum begins at 2 p.m. The free session is open to the public. The presentation will also stream live on Iowa City Public Library's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel and can be viewed there at any time. Project GREEN Garden Forum programs count toward continuing education credit hours.

Diane Allen, co-president of Project GREEN, said the nonprofit organization is a strong advocate for trees. “Trees are an essential part of our quality of life. Trees are the world’s longest-living species – trees don’t die of old age. A fascinating fact about trees is they can communicate with one another alerting companion trees to danger so that they can begin their line of defense.

“Trees also provide numerous benefits – food for humans and wildlife, protect the land from wind and erosion and provide shade for humans.”

A study by Nature magazine reports the United States and its territories is the fourth leading country in tree density, however, Iowa ranks No. 52 with only 8.43% of forested land.

Mouming is a Project Manager in the Natural Cultural Resources Division at Impact7G and is well-known in the Johnson County area where he worked 30-plus years in commercial landscape management for a large area lawn and landscape maintenance firm and oversaw prairie and pollinator installation and established and provided maintenance for corporate and institutional properties. Mouming has also distinguished himself with area service clubs and municipalities for working with them on multiple Earth Day/Arbor Day tree planting projects.

He also serves as the President of the board of directors of Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development and the past president of the Rotary Club of Coralville/North Corridor.

In his free time, he enjoys and spends as much time as possible with his wife Joanna enjoying and improving their southeast Iowa farmstead where they installed and maintain 50 acres of tallgrass prairie, a small orchard, and a bigger garden than they can manage.

Project GREEN (Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) was launched in 1968. The nonprofit organization supports efforts to educate citizens about the importance of conservation practices and preserving the natural environment. The organization celebrated 55 years of service to the community last year.

Geoff Mouming to present at Second Sunday Garden Forum on March 10.Photo byGraphic courtesy of Project GREEN