NY To Plant Hundreds Of Trees At Rockland Lake State Park

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — New York State will plant hundreds of new trees in Rockland Lake State Park, which has been devastated by invasive insects.

Trees provide oxygen and use carbon dioxide, making them indispensable to humans. One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people,according to the USDA.

Rockland Lake State Park has lost 1,500 trees to the invasive emerald ash borer.

"To directly face both the impact of emerald ash borer on our ash trees and continue to promote resilient, healthy forests in the face of climate change, we are replanting hundreds of native trees all around the property to restore the forest and make the park more welcoming to visitors," New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said in the announcement.

The new trees — maple, oak and other species native to New York State — are part of a five-year tree replacement and vegetation management plan beginning with a site assessment this fall.

The plan seems well-thought-out, Rockland Legislator Harriet Cornell told Patch.

"The white ash became victims of the emerald ash borer in good part because of climate change — the rising temperatures in the Northeast have provided a nurturing environment for them," she said.

"The park serves as a respite for its many visitors and providing shady spots to sit under and a serene green canopy to view is important," she said, adding that trees do much more, including removing greenhouse gases, filtering pollution and providing habitat for birds, animals, insects, mosses and fungi, all essential to a healthy ecosystem. "So, when we look at a tree, we need to remember that it’s much more than a pretty green umbrella offering shade."

Trees have been on her mind, Cornell acknowledged. She was awarded the County Executive’s 2022 Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award at Kennedy Dells County Park in New City on Tuesday, and a tree was planted in her honor. "I was thrilled!" she said. SEE: Cornell Named Rockland's 2022 Outstanding Environmental Volunteer

The new trees will help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their leaves, roots, trunks and soil. According to the U.S. Forest Service, New York's 18.6 million acres of forests hold 1.9 billion metric tons of carbon — equivalent to the carbon dioxide that would be released if we powered all the houses in New York State with fossil fuels for the next 100 years, state officials said.

Excess CO2 traps the sun's energy and heats up the atmosphere. In turn, that contributes to less snow in the winter, more frequent summer droughts and higher sea levels.

According to One Tree Planted, “a mature tree can absorb an average of 22 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live.”

These trees at Rockland Lake State Park will be part of a project that will bring more climate solutions to the park after the ash borer did so much damage. Trees help clean our air, filter water, and provide a habitat to hundreds of species of insects, fungi, moss and other plants, according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Phase one of the Rockland Lake tree planting project prepares an overall site assessment and survey work for 53 acres on the north end of Rockland Lake including the pool area and picnic groves. Teams will determine where site conditions, views, activities or utilities are best suited for planting opportunities.

The overall five-year plan is budgeted at $1 million with the first part of construction starting in spring 2023. Based on the study’s findings, adjustments will be made to fine-tune boundaries for the designated areas, state officials said.