Mary Phyllis doens’t think there will be enough trees in Chatham Park

Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:45:32 -0500 (EST)
From: mphorn22
Subject: Trees & Chatham Park

Trees’ Value To Us   by Maryphyllis

We humans cannot live by ourselves alone, on this Earth.  We rely on the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms to supply the elements of life that our bodies and spirits need for survival.  Consider seriously the value of trees to the very life of our planet.  Trees are living things that give service to us, far beyond aesthetics.  They are neither over-grown weeds, nor furniture that can be discarded anytime we get tired of them.  All life on this planet is guarded and nourished by trees.  Specifically:
1. Trees are the lungs of the planet because they generate the oxygen needed by all humans and animals to survive more than a few minutes.  (Oceans and other waters do the same; unfortunately, most are polluted and dying.)
2. Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide, thus cleansing the air of that element that is toxic to us.  Our air pollution is due in part to the decreasing number of trees available to cleanse the air of all toxins.  There are not enough left to do the job we need.
3. They shade and cool us in the summer.  Note: cities are significantly hotter than rural areas; the latter have significantly more trees than cities do.
4. Evergreens help to keep us warmer in the cold months.
5. Trees protect us against winter winds.
6. They disperse strong winds.  (West Virginia is a prime example.  There were no tornados there until an east-west interstate was built through it.  Residents say that now tornados follow that interstate, where there are no trees.)  In our case, thick and prevalent forests protect us from hurricanes a lot better than areas with much fewer trees.
7. They provide shade and protection for other plants, including ones that help to heal us.
8. Their roots, along with the roots of smaller plants beneath their canopy, aerate the soil so that excess surface water is absorbed into the earth, therefore guarding against flooding.
9. Their roots pull up water from the depths of the planet, so that other plants with shorter root systems can have water to grow.
10. They send moisture into the air, evaporated, so that we can have rainfall and replenished water supply.  Without trees, many other plants would die, resulting in massive droughts.
11. They prevent soil erosion……due to the three reasons stated directly above.
12. Trees, especially in forested wilderness, provide shelter for birds and other animals whose excretions fertilize the soil thus making it richer for growing plants.
13. They replenish our soil when leaves and dead wood are allowed to rot into the earth.  A forestry expert once told me that an untidy forest is actually a healthy one because of its ability to replenish the soil.  He said that a tidy, so-called “cleaned up,” forest is actually a sick one, a dying one, because the soil isn’t adequately replenished.  By their supportive existence, trees allow other plants to turn stone into soil as well.
14. They hold the earth’s crust onto the surface of the planet.

The current plans of Chatham Park make no mention of preserving wilderness space.  “Open space†is NOT wilderness.  Wilderness includes trees, plants and animal wildlife, which in our case also includes endangered species, rare species habitats, federally listed species, and wildlife corridor areas.  None of these are addressed in Chatham Park plans.  Witness other recent housing developments in the county; there are stands of trees, but nothing that allows wildlife to thrive and move as they were designed to by God.  There must be a significant percentage of that 7600 acres designated to maintaining current pristine wilderness condition.