Whitney Point Cemetery Tree, NY Guest Viewpoint in Binghamton paper   edniz   Sep 06, 2004 02:44 PDT  Hello,         An article in the Binghamton paper caught my eye back on Aug. 26th. A local cemetary has a 5 foot diameter soft maple that is in decline. A large limb has fallen already and damaged a number of stones, some of which date back to the 1790's. I wrote a guest viewpoint that the paper printed on Sept. 5th. They cut off a few lines, but got all the major points I was making. I spoke of how trees often create a sense of place for many areas and the benefits and pitfalls of urban landscaping. Here is what I sent them: Dear Editor,             As a long time lover of trees, the dilemma of the Riverside Cemetery Association in Whitney Point attracted my attention (article appeared on August 26th). I hate to see a tree cut down without reason, especially one that is a local landmark, but since it become a threat to these irreplaceable gravestones, there isn't much choice. My mother and I had a sugar maple cut down in 1997 that was becoming a threat to the property. It was 4 ½' in diameter. I did a ring count that took me back to the 1840's. It was one of three maples that were planted strategically to the southeast of the home. We surmise that the front part of the home was built in that same time period. These three maples shielded the home from a vast majority of the summer sun. Unfortunately, only one is left and that is in decline also.             Getting back to the cemetery tree, it must also date back well into the 1800's to reach a diameter of 5'. When the tree is finally removed, perhaps a ring count could be taken. The problem with trees when they reach that size is that they are often hollow making age estimates very speculative.             I could tell from the limb that that was lying on the ground that the tree has been in a state of decay for some time. Decaying trees serve a very important function in the ecology of the forest. In the latest issue of Mother Earth News, the importance of these "snags" is documented. In North America, about 85 species of birds, some 50 species of mammals and roughly a dozen reptiles and amphibians rely on snags for shelter, food, mating, resting, nesting and other functions. Decaying trees also serve as great incubators for new trees as they begin to generate. Cleaning up a forest of all its snags and "wolf trees" is a detriment to the biodiversity of the forest.             The dilemma of the cemetery association also highlights the importance of planting trees in appropriate places and engaging in routine maintenance and care until the tree has grown enough to fend for itself. How many times have you seen trees planted under power lines or next to the foundation of a home? Often trees are planted in very confined areas that may also be subject to exhaust fumes and road salt. These trees are often doomed to poor growth and eventually have to be removed. This results in an unfortunate waste of time and money. Contact your local cooperative extension agent or local landscaper for what trees are best suited for your particular growing conditions.             The planting of trees in urban areas has immense benefits. I got these figures from a recent edition of Earth Talk that appeared in the Ithaca Journal. Chicago's tree canopy removes the following pollutants from the atmosphere: 15 metric tons of carbon monoxide, 84 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, 89 tons of nitrogen dioxide, 191 tons of ozone and 212 metric tons of particulates. In the mid- 1990's, a public-private partnership in Sacramento, Calif., promoted the planting of over 200,000 trees around the city. Just ten years later, it is estimated that over 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere annually. This results in a savings of up to $3 million annually in pollution reduction. Although we usually don't think of trees when we think of the Big Apple, the five boroughs have over five million trees covering 17 percent of its public and private land. This saves its taxpayers as much as $10 million a year in pollution reduction.             If that tree in Whitney Point could speak, it certainly would have some stories to tell. I'm sure there were plenty of pioneers who stood in its shade to reminisce about the early days of settlement. Although this tree cannot write a book, you can interpret its life story by looking at its size, its height, the texture of the bark, the configuration of the limbs and its various battle scars from various storms or old age.   A tree this size imparts a special quality and provides much of the character for this special piece of ground. I once read a quote in reference to the redwoods that always resonated with me. Although I don't know the author, it went something like this: "These are more than just large trees. They are ambassadors from another age". For the Southern Tier, a tree like Whitney Point's soft maple definitely falls into that category. Ed Nizalowski Newark Valley, NY   Home