It's just a thought

  Don’t Forget the “Other Forest” by Jerry Berg - Land Trust member and Huntsville resident working to implement an urban forest conservation effort.   “Tree hugger?” I don’t mind being called that and I’d bet many Land Trust members don’t either. Some definitions I’ve seen include “advocate for the preservation of woodlands,” and “environmentalist, especially one concerned with preserving forests.” Well, sure -- we’re all concerned about threats to wilderness lands and forest areas, aren’t we? In other words, trees in the wild. But what about that other population of trees, the urban forest? It’s only recently that my focus and concern have expanded to include urban forests, specifically the tree population inside our city limits.    This concern came about initially from casual observation of trees being cut down in my neighborhood and not being replaced. Then I began to pay closer attention and ask questions. As I’ve dug further into the subject and learned more...

  For the Sake of Trees, Let’s Talk About Football Published as op-ed article in Huntsville Times, 4-19-20 This is about football … and trees. I say that because I’d like to get a lot of people’s attention, and I’ll explain the connection shortly. But first I need to touch on the subject of trees. As many Huntsville residents know, we live in a “Tree City USA.” Such a designation is made annually by the National Arbor Day Foundation and Huntsville has received it 29 times. This is gratifying to those of us who love and value trees, who realize that trees are a huge contributor to a high quality of urban life. What’s not so well known is that the Tree City USA designation is based on meeting four standards: (1) having a municipal Tree Commission; (2) having a tree-related ordinance in the municipal code; (3) holding an annual Arbor Day observance; and (4) funding urban forestry work at a level of $2 per capita per year, which in the case of Huntsville means spending at least $400,00...

                                     I Like it Here Huntsville's Five Points neighborhood is where I've lived for almost 50 years. So yes, I definitely like it here. I can’t remember why I first felt the attraction and came under the “spell” of Five Points. I’m sure though that the neighborhood’s shady, tree-lined streets were one of the big reasons. That is why it concerns me when I see something I’ve been noticing more and more lately. Five Points is losing trees, slowly but surely. This is inevitable, of course, given that trees are living entities with finite lifespans. Then too, their lives can be shortened by disease, storms, and the like. We also lose trees because some homeowners (sometimes the city as well) decide they’re too much trouble, or in the way of a project, pose a threat of property damage, or possibly even endanger personal safety.  Some tree loss of cou...