Plant a seedling and watch it grow.
As a part of the Arbor Day Foundation's program Tree City USA, the City of Auburn did just that when it founded the Auburn Tree Commission.
The Auburn Tree Commission is a group of people dedicated to the well-being of the trees planted in the city.
Tree City USA's mission is to provide direction, technical assistance, public attention and national direction for the forestry programs in currently 3,400 Tree City USAs, according to the Arbor Day Foundation website.
"One of the requirements of Tree City USA is you have to have a tree board or tree commission," said Art Chappelka, chairman of the Tree Commission and Auburn University forestry professor. "Generally, we're a voluntary organization."
Made up of nine members, the Auburn Tree Commission is focused on overseeing the protection of trees in Auburn, promoting and increasing the tree population and educating the citizens of Auburn on the care and maintenance of trees.
"We are a voluntary organization through the city," Chappelka said. "We are volunteers, citizens of all different kinds of backgrounds. Our role, generally, is to act as a liaison from the city to the general public. We can make recommendations. We do various public education type of activities. We do various service activities such as honor Arbor Day, things like that."
Although the Tree Commission acts as a liaison, the actual maintenance of the trees in Auburn falls to the city of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department.
The Tree Commission's yearly calendar is filled with three major events: the Christmas Parade, Arbor Day and Cityfest.
Chappelka said these events are always fun because the Commission interacts with the public and gets to give away tree seedlings and occasionally larger trees.
"We always give out trees, and it's a nice service," Chappelka said. "It has been highly successful. We have people every year come by and tell us how their trees are doing. It's great."
At its last meeting on Friday, Nov. 2, the Tree Commission discussed its upcoming tree giveaways at the Saturday, Dec. 15 Christmas Parade.
"In the past, we've given away a large species and a small species," said James Jennings, City of Auburn's Urban Forester. "This year, we're giving away a thousand dogwoods."
During the tree giveaways, the Tree Commission has several locations throughout the city for people to come and receive one.
"If people want trees, we give them to them," Chappelka said. "We give maybe two trees each. It's for the citizens of Auburn. Anybody that wants a tree, if we have them, we'll give them a tree."
The Auburn Tree Commission gives out an award every year to promote tree education.
"Through our Golden Leaf award, we hope we can generate support from the public and educate the public," Chappelka said.
The Tree Commission emphasizes the education of proper tree care at these events and throughout the year.
Along with providing pamphlets through the city, the Tree Commission also provides handouts.
"I think education is very important," Chappelka said. "The more people know about a subject, in this case trees, it helps maintain a healthy, vibrant forest. One of our goals in a vibrant city is to maintain a good, healthy tree canopy."
Chappelka said it is important to understand trees and understand that proper care and maintenance adds to the quality of the community.
"Trees can be assets or liabilities," Chappelka said. "We try to encourage people to understand trees, what their assets are, that it's valuable to preserve trees, it's valuable to maintain the health of these trees."
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