HOUSTON’S GROWING SCALP The Center for Houston’s Future reports on the continuing disappearance of the region’s trees, mostly from sprawling new development: “The total loss of tree canopy in the greater Houston region between 1992 and 2005 is 680 square miles. This loss equates roughly to the physical size of the city of Houston, and since 2005, tree loss has continued. . . . No data exists as of December 2009 to inform the region how much tree cover we lost between 2005 and 2008. . . . Since 2005 the region experienced Hurricane Ike which literally decimated the tree population on Galveston Island. The island lost many of its 100 year old live oaks, most of which were planted after the Great Storm of 1900. Meanwhile, since 2000 the trend has been a steady increase in the number of trees planted by government agencies, volunteer organizations, and individual citizens. . . . From 2000-2008, almost one million trees were planted by public and private efforts, according to organizations that reported as part of this study.” [Center for Houston’s Future; full report (PDF)]