Not having a group of volunteers solely focused on maintaining vigilance and carrying out community forestry responsibilities will endanger our trees.
Our trees provide a wide variety of functions that promote the health, safety, and the general welfare of Township residents. These functions include:
Our trees provide a wide variety of functions that promote the health, safety, and the general welfare of Township residents. These functions include:
- conserving energy, by providing shade and evaporative cooling through transpiration;
- improving local air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and ozone, adsorbing particulate matter, and producing oxygen;
- reducing wind speed and directing air flow;
- reducing noise pollution;
- providing habitat for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife;
- reducing storm runoff and the potential for soil erosion;
- increasing real property values;
- enhancing visual and aesthetic qualities that attract visitors and businesses and serve as a source of community image and pride.
Our community is not likely to realize most of the benefits that the community forest can provide if our trees aren't cared for and they develop poor health. Promoting tree health helps Southampton protect our 43 year investment in the forest. Public health and safety also depends on healthy trees. Improperly maintained and unhealthy trees often have an increased risk of breakage or failure, which can result in personal injury and property damage . Cultural practices have a major impact on the health of Southampton's trees. Proper and timely pruning can promote good tree structure and health, whereas topping and other improper pruning techniques can result in hazardous structure and decay. Watering is necessary for tree survival in many situations, but excess or improper irrigation practices can contribute to the decline of established trees. By providing for proper tree care and eliminating destructive practices, we can go a long way toward maintaining our trees in a healthy and safe condition.
The trees in our community have finite life spans and must be removed as they die. Living trees may also be removed when their health, appearance, or structural integrity decline substantially, or when they conflict excessively with utilities and structures. The likelihood that a tree will need to be removed for one reason or another increases as the tree grows older and larger. If areas are planted to a single species at one time, a large percentage of the trees will need to be removed over a short time period when they reach the end of their useful life. This results in a rapid reduction in canopy cover, and the loss of many of the benefits provided by our community's trees. This undesirable situation is less likely to occur if the community forest is composed of a variety of tree age classes and species. Serious pest outbreaks and epidemics can arise in communities in which large areas are planted to a single susceptible species or variety. These outbreaks can seriously impair the overall health, appearance, and longevity of the urban forest. Species diversity and genetic diversity within species helps stabilize the urban forest by buffering it from pest and disease epidemics. Many insect pests and plant pathogens can only attack one or a few tree species. The reproduction and spread of many tree pests and diseases will be slowed if the community forest contains a diverse mix of tree species. Furthermore, if a disease or pest problem does develop on a given species, species diversity ensures that the condition of the entire community forest is not jeopardized.
The undesirable situations listed above can be prevented by maintaining the Shade Tree Commission.
The trees in our community have finite life spans and must be removed as they die. Living trees may also be removed when their health, appearance, or structural integrity decline substantially, or when they conflict excessively with utilities and structures. The likelihood that a tree will need to be removed for one reason or another increases as the tree grows older and larger. If areas are planted to a single species at one time, a large percentage of the trees will need to be removed over a short time period when they reach the end of their useful life. This results in a rapid reduction in canopy cover, and the loss of many of the benefits provided by our community's trees. This undesirable situation is less likely to occur if the community forest is composed of a variety of tree age classes and species. Serious pest outbreaks and epidemics can arise in communities in which large areas are planted to a single susceptible species or variety. These outbreaks can seriously impair the overall health, appearance, and longevity of the urban forest. Species diversity and genetic diversity within species helps stabilize the urban forest by buffering it from pest and disease epidemics. Many insect pests and plant pathogens can only attack one or a few tree species. The reproduction and spread of many tree pests and diseases will be slowed if the community forest contains a diverse mix of tree species. Furthermore, if a disease or pest problem does develop on a given species, species diversity ensures that the condition of the entire community forest is not jeopardized.
The undesirable situations listed above can be prevented by maintaining the Shade Tree Commission.