Chapter 1: The Roots of Change

As you stroll through the neighborhoods of Baltimore, take a moment to gaze upwards. The distinctive ginkgo leaves and vibrant cherries dangling from branches are the tangible results of Gene DeSantis's lifelong dedication. Over the past four decades, this dedicated 57-year-old has planted an impressive total of 15,223 trees on Saturdays alone.

For DeSantis, a champion of local greening efforts, tree planting began as a therapeutic escape from a turbulent childhood marred by an alcoholic stepfather and a mother grappling with addiction. During turbulent nights, young DeSantis sought solace in the trees of his yard. "Trees became my friends," he reflects. "You could say I kind of grew up there."

A tragic turning point came in 1976 when his stepfather took the lives of both his mother and himself. The following year, at 17, DeSantis returned to his hometown, moving in with his grandmother. That year marked the beginning of his journey into tree planting, a therapeutic outlet for his suppressed anger. "I was furious inside because the world felt so unjust," he explains. "Digging and planting helped me channel that anger."

While DeSantis's personal connection to trees is unique, the calming effects of nature are well-documented. Studies indicate that exposure to trees can lower stress levels, heart rates, muscle tension, asthma rates, and blood pressure.

The advantages of urban forests extend beyond personal well-being. They serve as natural air filters, capturing pollution and cooling overheated streets. In Baltimore, the city’s expansive 14,000 acres of canopy absorbs over 550,000 tons of carbon annually, equivalent to offsetting the emissions of more than 600,000 residents for 54 days.

The urban tree canopy is a strong indicator of a city's vitality, with trees contributing significantly to the health and wellness of communities. "They provide essential benefits to foster true health and wellness within neighborhoods," states Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit focused on tree planting.

Despite their numerous benefits, urban tree coverage in the U.S. is diminishing. The United States Forest Service reports a loss of 36 million urban trees between 2009 and 2014, with cities losing 175,000 acres of tree cover annually. While urban development continues to expand, encroaching on green spaces, Lambe emphasizes, "There has never been a more critical time to plant trees."

However, Baltimore defies this trend. The city is seeing an annual increase of over 5,000 new trees, particularly in its eastern and western neighborhoods that have faced significant challenges. Over the last four decades, Baltimore has become a beacon of urban reforestation, mobilizing community groups and volunteers like DeSantis to lead the charge.

In the spring of 1977, not long after his return to Baltimore, DeSantis noticed city workers planting a tree and eagerly offered his assistance. Although the crew couldn’t pay him, he was undeterred; he just wanted to help. He quickly learned that planting trees was a more complex process than he initially thought. Urban foresters typically plant young trees that are well-established, requiring careful preparation to ensure their survival.

DeSantis found solace in this work, falling into a consistent routine of volunteering. He would contact the parks department to find out when planting events were scheduled and then make his way there by foot or bus.

This early experience marked the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to service. On the day he planted his first tree, he also volunteered to deliver meals to homeless individuals. Today, he works as a health aide for a centenarian, provides meals at a church-run employment center, and bakes for residents at a local shelter. His Christian faith drives his efforts, but he also seeks to heal from past traumas. "I try to move beyond it," he shares. "You can never truly forget."

In his early days of volunteering, DeSantis often witnessed the replacement of dead elms with Japanese zelkovas, a response to a widespread elm blight that devastated millions of trees across the nation. This crisis prompted a national awareness about the value of trees, leading Congress to fund urban forestry research initiatives in 1978.

The resulting research highlighted the numerous benefits of urban canopies, including their ability to filter pollutants and reduce energy consumption. Notable studies have shown that patients with views of trees heal faster and require less pain medication compared to those without such views.

Despite this mounting evidence, many cities prioritized development over tree preservation. Municipal funding for urban forestry steadily declined throughout the late 20th century, even as cities like Portland and New York experienced significant losses in tree cover. Baltimore, however, charted a different course.

In the early 1990s, DeSantis began volunteering with the Parks & People Foundation, an organization focused on greening Baltimore's streets and vacant lots. Founded by civic leader Sally Michel, this nonprofit helped catalyze efforts to enhance the city’s tree canopy.

In 1993, federal support followed, with a $2.5 million grant to the city for a program aimed at planting over 17,000 trees over a decade. Baltimore soon learned that successful greening efforts required collaboration among municipal authorities, nonprofits, and local businesses.

This realization extended beyond Baltimore, offering insights into the necessary resources and partnerships for other cities to bolster their urban canopies. "The mission was to create a model for community forestry that could be replicated elsewhere," recalls city forester Gary Letteron.

As the Revitalizing Baltimore initiative fostered coordination among various stakeholders, a separate project sought to gather the data needed to advocate for tree investment. In 1998, the National Science Foundation funded the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, a long-term ecological research project assessing the city’s canopy and its impact on pollution reduction and energy consumption. The findings from this research demonstrated that Baltimore’s trees provide substantial financial benefits, saving residents $3.3 million annually in climate control costs.

The establishment of TreeBaltimore in 2006 marked a pivotal moment for the city, as it became the official agency responsible for expanding the urban forest through community collaboration. "That was likely a turning point," notes city arborist Erik Dihle.

These initiatives inspired further advancements. Nowak and his colleagues developed software called i-Tree, enabling any city to assess its tree canopy’s effects. This tool has proven invaluable for municipalities seeking to bolster their green infrastructure. For instance, New York City used i-Tree data to support a decade-long initiative to plant one million trees, while Philadelphia utilized the software to plan significant investments in green infrastructure.

On a chilly Saturday in March, DeSantis walks to Canton, a neighborhood in southeast Baltimore, to assist a local group in planting three oaks and two maples—his 15,219th through 15,223rd trees. Although he keeps a mental tally, local organizations recognize his significant contributions. "Gene has always been a vital part of the scene," recalls Amanda Cunningham, a former program manager at the Parks & People Foundation.

Despite his impressive planting record, DeSantis's efforts contribute to TreeBaltimore's broader goal of increasing the city's tree canopy from 28% to 40% by 2037, based on recommendations from the American Forests organization. This ambitious target reflects the optimal tree coverage for urban areas in forested states.

Baltimore is motivated by federal directives to reduce pollution runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. New trees can effectively absorb stormwater, preventing contaminants from reaching the estuary. A mature tree can capture over 36,000 gallons of water annually.

TreeBaltimore collaborates with around 60 local organizations to identify optimal planting sites. For instance, groups focused on bay protection can target areas prone to flooding, while neighborhoods suffering from limited greenspace can be prioritized for larger-scale planting efforts. "We’re connecting trees to the tangible benefits they provide," explains Charles Murphy, the office's operations lead.

Their ongoing work has increasingly relied on community involvement, particularly from dedicated volunteers like DeSantis. As he approaches another fall planting season, he will celebrate 41 years since he planted his first tree. In 2019, TreeBaltimore aims to plant 2,000 new trees, with many more added by their community partners. Organizations will be calling for volunteers to help dig holes, and as always, DeSantis will be there, ready to lend a hand.

Chapter 2: The Healing Power of Nature

The first video titled "LEAKIN PARK: Baltimore's Haunted MURDER Forest (DON'T VISIT) | SCARY Paranormal Activity On Camera" explores the eerie side of Baltimore's green spaces, focusing on local legends and ghostly encounters within the city's parks.

The second video, "I work in a Museum. We collect DEAD MONSTERS," delves into a unique perspective on the preservation of urban nature, showcasing how even deceased trees can play a role in understanding Baltimore's ecological history.