Our Valuable Native Trees

Our Valuable Native Trees

Carol Chandler, contributing writer

Most everyone who lives or visits this beautiful mountainous area of Southern Appalachia loves this area due to its beauty, serenity, and quiet simple living.  Much of its beauty come from  our native trees such  as black walnut, Maple, Serviceberry, Beechnut, Mulberries, Junipers, Hickory, Oaks, Persimmon, Pines, Plums, Birch, Black Cherry, Hollies, Dogwood, and Chestnut. Not only do these trees provide beauty and food for us; but, they also provide shelter and food for many of our wildlife. They also process carbon dioxide into oxygen, lessen drought, shade our homes and provide us with wood products.

Shelter comes as bears sleep in the hollows of huge trees. Evergreens provide shelter to birds and other wildlife from harsh winter winds. Birds make their homes in the holes of standing dead trees. Deer and other animals rest in the areas under pine forests.

Native trees provide survival food from their nuts, berries, and leaves for our wildlife. Invasive plants have been devastating areas of our home sites and forests. Some of these invasive plants are sold through local plant sales and plant catalogues. Learn how to identify invasive plants. Be careful not to buy any of these plants or their seeds. Study your land and do what you can to responsibly destroy invasive plants.  Homeowners can sometimes cut out “

“invasive” native trees to allow for more diversity of other native trees growing on their land or to allow for more room for healthy growth of the desired native trees. I try to cut most of them out in the winter when snakes are less frequently a danger.

Much has also been written about irresponsible clear cutting of forests areas which have resulted in devastating mudslides responsible for deaths of people, wildlife, and devaluation of land.

Those of us that make this area our homes will find the following websites very helpful for more information about what we can do to safeguard our valuable trees, forests, and wildlife:

Native Trees of Georgia, a Georgia Forestry Commission publication, written by G. Norman Bishop Professor of Forestry at the George Foster Peabody School of Forestry University of Georgia is available online at:

http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/Resources/Publications/Educational/NativeTreesP.pdf

http://getsustainablenow.org/sabp/ Southern Appalachia Biodiversity Project provides homeowners information about responsible management of our valuable land.

http://www.nanps.org/rescues.aspx Provides citizens with a national source of information about what can be done prior to a land clearing project. North American Plant Rescue Society

Positive action locally to protect our environment can be as simple as setting aside a portion of your property as a native habitat. Individual property owners, developers, civic organizations, business owners, schools, churches and government officials can make a difference. Contact The Preservation Committee  of the Community Council of the University of Georgia’s Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center (Jennifer Cordier; ivylog@windstream.net, 706-745-9317 or Clare Johnston; clarejo@uga.edu, 706-745-2655 or visit our website: www.gmrec.uga.edu for information about qualifying your property as an Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary.