Plant trees to make our towns better
By Sauk Valley Newspapers - What We Think - letters@svnmail.com
Friday’s Arbor Day celebration coincides nicely with Wednesday’s Earth Day observances. Why? It’s hard to think of a better activity to help the earth than to plant trees.
Organized efforts to accomplish this task continue across Illinois. The number of Tree City USA communities has risen to 191.
From Chicago to Carbondale, from Quincy to Charleston, these are communities whose governments have committed to care for and enhance the trees growing within municipal boundaries.
The minimum obligation to attain Tree City status isn’t that much. A city or village must pass a tree-care ordinance and legally designate an individual or group to care for its so-called “urban forest.” The community must agree to spend a minimum of $2 per capita each year on tree care and plantings. Finally, the community must make an annual Arbor Day proclamation and conduct a public tree planting ceremony.
Even in a recession, local communities that invest in trees are spending their money wisely.
Which are the Tree City USA towns in the Sauk Valley?
Unfortunately, you can count them on one hand.
We have two in Lee County – Dixon and Steward – and two in Carroll County – Lanark and Mount Carroll. That’s it.
Communities in Whiteside and Ogle counties are conspicuous by their absence from the Tree City list.
This is a shame, because trees planted and preserved now will enrich their communities for decades to come.
The cost, at $2 a person, isn’t that much. Tampico could become a Tree City for less than $1,600 a year. Prophetstown? A little over $4,000. Morrison? About $9,000.
What about Polo? About $5,000 would do the trick. Mount Morris and Oregon would have to commit about $6,000 and $8,000, respectively.
Participating in a Tree City program is an excellent way to set forth on a journey toward a tree-filled community.
But it’s not the only way.
Clubs, organizations and private citizens can do their part. Many times we’ve seen individuals or groups donate trees in memory of loved ones. Whether planted in parks, school campuses, athletic fields, cemeteries or elsewhere, these trees serve as beautiful living memorials while improving the environment and wildlife ecosystems.
Oregon High School students have announced that they will buy and plant a tree as a living memorial for a deceased classmate. We congratulate those young people for their far-sighted gift.
We’d like to see more communities embrace the Tree City program, and we encourage their residents take on more tree-planting projects of their own.
