Earlier this month, Madison’s Division of Urban Forestry proposed new ordinances to strengthen protections for trees, particularly in the isthmus and near east and west sides.
Protecting trees isn’t an issue of neighborhood aesthetics alone. The shade created by urban trees — which are often damaged or removed during development projects — help mitigate heat islands, which are the areas where concrete and asphalt trap and reemit heat.
Madison’s most prominent heat island is the isthmus, which is typically one to two degrees hotter than the near west and near east sides. Outlying areas can be three to four degrees cooler. For events held downtown in the summertime (like Concerts on the Square, Taste of Madison and more), the shade created by mature trees is crucial — even if Madisonians don’t realize it…