OUTDOOR CORNER: TIME TO GIVE BACK TO THE URBAN TREE

Communities benefit greatly from trees. These silent citizens quietly add to our quality of life by providing many of the things we take for granted.

They provide our communities with beauty, cleaner air, energy savings, wildlife habitat, noise reduction, improved health, better water quality, increased property values and increased economic stability.

Trees are as much a part of our communities as electrical and sewer systems, parking lots and streets, and are much more environmentally beautiful. Can you imagine your community without these quiet neighbors.

But who is taking care of the urban forest where we live? Our urban forests are in severe decline. Trees are being lost at a faster rate than new trees are being planted. Newly planted trees are often neglected and die for lack of proper care. Many trees planted years ago are now in the wrong place and are considered hazard trees that must be removed. Others are growing old and more vulnerable to attack from insects and disease.

Trees, like the rest of a community's infrastructure, must be maintained in order to provide intended benefits. Public trees however, are often at the end of the list when budgets are prepared. Many states, cities and communities have made no plans for the future of their urban forests.

In Missouri these concerns are being addressed by the Missouri Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (MUCFAC). This organization is composed of concerned citizens from nine different regions and is funded through the Missouri Department of Conservation and private donations.

Each region has an active council of diverse citizens who work on urban forest issues in their respective areas. MUCFAC's mission is to advise the State of Missouri on the best way to preserve, protect, expand and improve our urban and community forests. In addition, they also try to coordinate and facilitate the efforts being made by many jurisdictions and entities which own and affect our urban and community forests.

MUCFAC has the potential to focus both local and statewide attention on trees in our communities -- a great beginning in the process of maintaining a healthy urban forest and creating a new forest when needed.

Promote stewardship for Missouri's urban forests, and speak up for the silent citizens in your community. Take part in the Urban and Community Forestry Council in your region. Contact your regional representative by calling the Missouri Department of Conservation Forestry Division at (573)290-5730.

Rocky Hayes is a Urban Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation.