Illinois town has no more room for trees

After 24 years of vigorous tree-planting initiatives, the small town of Buffalo, Ill., has no more room for trees.

Since 1986, community volunteers have planted about 640 trees, reported The State Journal-Register last week. In comparison, the town has 500 residents.

An excerpt from the story:

“We were planting about 50 trees a year until probably four or five years ago,” said Bill Vetter, Buffalo mayor and chairman of the town’s Tree City USA committee. “You get to the point where it’s a question of, ‘Where will I put another tree?’ You can’t put them on top of each other.”

Vetter, who describes himself as a “tree lover” but not a “tree hugger,” said the trees make Buffalo a nicer place to live. His group has planted red oaks, burr oaks, several varieties of crab trees, purple ash and more.

What an amazing issue. When will Portland get to the point of having too many trees—2025, 2050?

Another good point made in the story:

Mike Dirksen, city arborist in nearby Springfield, described trees and plants as the “green infrastructure.”

“There are so many benefits from trees,” he said. “They shouldn’t just be seen as having an ornamental purpose.”

Last year, Springfield planted 200 new trees in the Enos Park neighborhood on the city’s near north end. Money from the area’s tax increment financing fund was used.

Friends of Trees staffer David Odom made this exact presentation to the Portland City Council last month, asking the question “What municipal asset gains value over time?”

One guess at the answer…

–Toshio Suzuki