Speak Up for the Trees

by columnist Edith Makra
Community Tree Advocate
Community Tree Program
The Morton Arboretum

Sure, you can grumble when community leaders don’t seem to care for the trees as you do.

“They are going to what!? Cut down the trees??”

“Why don’t they do something to save these beautiful oaks?”

“What happened to all the trees we used to enjoy on our walks?”

Or, you can speak up, make yourself heard and try to change things for the better. Many folks avoid getting involved in politics. What I’m asking is for you to participate in your democracy. We have chosen a representative form of government for ourselves and you need to help your mayor, village trustees and other elected officials represent your concerns. If you care about trees in your community, I am asking you to speak up – sometimes that has to be in a public forum.

Melissa and David Creech did. This Glen Ellyn couple lives adjacent to Ackerman Woods, a patch of woods near a park district sports facility. These humble woods didn’t get much attention until the two municipal agencies announced a plan to clear a stand of trees for a detention area and soccer field. Then, friends of the woods came, er… out of the woodwork. More than 1,500 people signed an on-line petition. That means each of the 340 trees had a couple of advocates of their own! Competing public land priorities, economic development issues and engineering considerations made this tree preservation campaign a complex course. Melissa’s skills as a journalist, David’s internet savvy and connections to athletic field expertise, and their red-headed twin girls disarming ways made the Creech family formidable champions for this community’s tree preservation charge. Hundreds of neighbors joined in and voiced their support for the trees. At public meetings, through the media and by direct contact with village leaders, these voices were clear and strong. Civic leaders heard what was important to their constituents. And the trees will stand.

Barb and Dom Costabile spoke up, too. They so enjoyed sitting on their backyard deck in the Oak Hills subdivision in Lisle admiring the surrounding towering oaks. Then gypsy moths moved in. Munch, munch, munch – the fuzzy caterpillars devoured the leaves showing way too much blue sky in the canopies. Trees don’t like that. The resulting droppings on the patio – Barb and Dom don’t like that! With guidance from our Arboretum Plant Clinic experts they brought in certified arborists to treat the infestation and stem the damage. Neighbors followed suit. But the public land in Candlewood Park wasn’t so cared for. Barb made some attempts in past years to nudge the park district to also treat the park trees but without success. We invited the village forester, park district managers and the state’s gypsy moth expert to join the Barb, Dom and the Oak Hill neighbors at the Arboretum to brainstorm creative solutions to the growing gypsy moth problem in the village. Again, the “speak up” option seemed the most promising. Irma Hillock, the chosen spokesperson, mustered courage, armed herself with information, surrounded herself with concerned neighbors and spoke up at the Lisle Park Board meeting. The elected stewards of parks in Lisle, “The Arboretum Village,” were responsive to the citizen’s group and are planning to budget for gypsy moth control for next year. Trees win, again!

While we’re on a roll, let’s look at one more community campaign, for tree planting this time. Rose Titus, a North Riverside Garden Club member grumbled to her husband that trees were disappearing from their neighborhood streets and no new trees were being planted. The village didn’t have a regular tree planting program. As an Arboretum seasonal staff member, Rose knows a little about planting trees, but advocacy was new to her. We gave her a little pep talk and shared some resources that could streamline tree planting for the community. Persistence and her disarming ways got Rose an audience with the Mayor. She told him that trees are important to her and to the character and well-being of the residents of North Riverside. He agreed. And he happily planted the first tree in the Village on Arbor Day to kick off the new community tree planting program.

Ok, it isn’t always this easy. We, the trees and their advocates, have had a good run this spring. Sometimes we lose. But maybe these few victories can inspire others to go out on a limb for community trees. The stumpy, mustached Lorax, a character created by Dr. Seuss, declares, “I speak for the trees.” But he also says, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” If I can add to the Lorax’s challenge: “Speak up for the trees.” If Lorax, Rose, Melissa, Barb and other community tree advocates can do it, so can you.

Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes. – Maggie Kuhn

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