Article by:
U.S. Congressman Steven Horsford
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Nevada would be getting $15.7 million dedicated to investments in urban forestry. When I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, I knew the unprecedented investments in combatting climate change would be vital to our communities. That legislation was a commitment to act on issues we can't afford to ignore, whether the rising cost of living or the rising temperatures on our doorsteps.
As heatwaves get more intense in the Las Vegas region year after year, we must take action to provide relief. This $15.7 million will allow our state to invest in urban forests that would provide natural shelter, shade, and relief from the brutal heat. Projects can include urban parks, street trees, landscaped boulevards, gardens, greenways, wetlands, nature preserves, shelter belts of trees, and working trees at former industrial sites. Urban forests, through planned connections of green spaces, form the green infrastructure on which communities depend. Green infrastructure works at multiple scales, from the neighborhood to the metro area to the regional landscape.
These investments are vital to combatting the heat islands that many communities of color and neighborhoods we call home deal with. Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. Structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun's heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies.
Aside from the urban forestry investments in trees for our communities, there are other strategies we can deploy to reduce the impacts of heat islands. Green roofs, also called “rooftop gardens” or “eco-roofs,” combat heat islands by providing shade and removing heat from the air through evapotranspiration. Installing a cool roof – one made of materials or coatings that significantly reflect sunlight and heat away from a building – reduces roof temperatures, increases the comfort of occupants, and lowers energy demand. Furthermore, investments in paving materials on sidewalks, parking lots, and streets will help them remain cooler than conventional pavements. This is accomplished by reflecting more solar energy and enhancing water evaporation, which cools the pavement surface and surrounding air, but can also reduce stormwater runoff and improve nighttime visibility.
These investments are only the beginning of addressing a serious issue for our community. Together, from homeowners to developers, we can combat the heat islands that afflict our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I will continue to support programs that do just that and look forward to hearing from you about the positive impacts of these investments.