"U.S. Urban Forests Shrinking"

"New Orleans, Houston and Albuquerque are losing trees faster than any other U.S. cities, and across the country tree cover is declining at a rate of about four million trees per year, finds new U.S. Forest Service research published in the journal 'Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.'"

"Researchers had expected to find a loss of trees in New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

'Our urban forests are under stress, and it will take all of us working together to improve the health of these crucial green spaces,' said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell."

Environment News Service had the story February 23, 2012.