A few years ago, the City of East Lansing valued its urban forest at $12 million, based on the timber and aesthetic values as well as the trees’ role in stormwater management and carbon sequestration, says David Smith, the city’s environmental specialist.
East Lansing has nearly 9,000 trees and 124 different species.
So when the invasive emerald ash borer hit town, “it was not only painful to see those nice trees go,” Smith says, but much of the city’s forestry budget went to removing dead trees rather than replenishing the forest as it had in the past.
But three groups came forward to help out. The Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUSFCU) and the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance donated 37 trees to the city and helped plant them on Oct. 1. The staff selected 12 different kinds of trees ranging from red maples to kousa dogwoods.
In addition, Consumers Energy added $2,000 to be spent on trees appropriate for growth under and near utility lines. Most of those were planted along Lake Lansing and Harrison Roads.
Source: David Smith, East Lansing
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.
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