FINDINGS.

SEC. 1262. FINDINGS.Congress finds that— (1) trees and forests provide beauty and diversity to both rural and urban landscapes; (2) trees and forests protect the United States’s soil, water, and wetland resources by filtering runoff and preventing erosion; (3) trees and forests provide food and cover for many species of wildlife; 104 STAT. 3554 (4) trees and forests provide shade, block winds, and add moisture to the air, thereby mitigating the urban “heat island” effect and significantly reducing energy use; (5) trees and forests make important contributions to the environmental, social, and economic well-being of both rural and urban areas across the United States; and (6) stewardship of trees and forests could be significantly enhanced by encouraging, promoting, and supporting partnerships and community service projects involving individuals, youth groups, organizations, businesses and governments at all levels.