Council would be wise to hire urban forester
12:06 AM CDT on Saturday, June 4, 2005
 On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council will vote to consider
accepting an unprecedented, one-time $100,000 grant from the
Texas Forest Service to fund an urban forester.
The urban
forester will foster the growth and health of our forests, which
have many direct effects on our quality of life. A few benefits
of sound urban forestry management include cleaner air, water
and soil.
Trees and urban forests represent the "natural capital" of
our infrastructure, the only infrastructure that grows in a
quantifiable dollar value. As such, we cannot let the value
degrade from oak wilt -- a deadly tree pathogen confirmed at 175
sites in Dallas -- invasive pests or other diseases. Oak wilt
alone can potentially result in massive financial loss, with no
current city effort in place to eradicate it or educate the
public.
We need an urban forester as an investment adviser to
initiate a proactive plan that protects and grows our
investment. A forester's objectives pay multiple dividends
supporting all of the City Council's five stated priorities.
Contact City Council members to tell them that in financially
tough times the city cannot reject a $100,000 grant offer for a
position that pays big dividends. It is simply smart business.
Steve Houser, certified consulting arborist, Arborilogical
Services Inc., Wylie
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