Reynolds’ Green Team members along with other volunteers planted eight hackberry trees on the Parham Road Campus on Sunday, December 9th. The trees, ordered by the Reynolds Environmental Sustainability Committee, were selected because of their carbon sequestering characteristics.
Carbon dioxide plays an important role in natural processes such as photosynthesis. However, the release of too much carbon dioxide causes environmental problems and contributes to global climate change.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon. Planting trees in certain areas can create the opportunity for carbon sequestration. The hackberry tree is very good at removing carbon dioxide pollution from the atmosphere. The trees planted in December at the Parham Road Campus will absorb and remove from the atmosphere over one ton of carbon dioxide in about 10 years.
In addition, the hackberry fruit is an excellent winter food source for many birds, such as cedar waxwings, mockingbirds, and robins. In other seasons bluebirds, catbirds, cardinals, and towhee will eat the fruit. The hackberry tree will also provide protection and comfort to birds and dragonflies that use our small pond.
Hackberry trees will also be planted at the Goochland and Downtown campuses in the next few days.
For more information on the Reynolds Environmental Sustainability Committee please contact Chairman Richard Groover at 523-5594 or rgrover@reynolds.edu. For more information on the Reynolds Green Team, please contact Charlie Peterson at 523-5821 or cpeterson@reynolds.edu.
