Tree Emergency Response Team

Our mission is to identify trees that most likely will be at risk in future developments. Often when we notice that a tree is at risk, it’s when someone is standing before it wielding a chainsaw. Generally, this means it’s too late. The time to start talking about a tree is when the developer is first thinking about the property, before the architect has drawn up the plans. Once the architect has drawn up the plans, it is much more difficult to convince the developer to change direction, as it would be complicated and expensive for the developer to incorporate the trees at that point. If the developer knows that the community cares about its trees, the developer may choose to build without killing the tree. Importantly, it’s vital to be there at the beginning and for the developer to know that we care about our trees. That’s the plan. To be there at the beginning.

Concurrently with the painting events, we initiate a postcard writing campaign. This allows another dimension to our efforts to bring attention to the developer in a positive way. The postcard campaigns also notify the developers that as a community, we are vigilant of the development and changes happening in our neighborhood and are not complacent in said changes. ​ Our job is to help trees to be loved and noticed by the community. Those things that we value, those things we love, we protect and defend them from harm. That is why these trees need our help.