September 7, 2012 @ 1:21 PM

Here in Southeast Texas we have enjoyed a year that has been full of rain, a welcome change from the devastating 2011 drought last year. It is easy to spot, however, all the victims of the drought, dead trees that are still standing and in need of removal. So many trees died, in fact, that in spite of ongoing efforts, not all dead trees have yet been able to be safely cut down and removed.

Property owner associations and townships have been diligently working on the problem, and eventually those dead oaks and pines will be gone. Already there are gaping holes in our forests along the highways, roads, parks and greenbelts  -- areas where dead trees have been removed, areas begging to be replenished with that which was lost.  But who is responsible for that? Do we let nature take its course or is there a proactive way we can get involved?

Well organized townships and neighborhoods in your area might have well-defined reforestation programs and initiatives in place. For example, The Woodlands, Texas has provided press release statements letting the people of this master-planned community know the number of trees that have already been planted, including the variety of trees being planted, from the tall Loblolly and Longleaf pines, several species of oaks, and down to the smaller Yaupon evergreen and popular crepe myrtle trees. The Woodlands keeps it all under tight control, and residents who want to request reforestation in their immediate neighborhood are requested to call The Woodlands Parks & Recreation division to get it done. Not all neighborhoods, however, are so structured.

Do you see an area in your neighborhood that has lost trees, and as a result, has lost a lot of the former beauty  it once had? Contact your neighborhood’s home owner’s association. Request that your HOA devise and promote a tree planting project encouraging participation by the residents  - a community effort of local reforestation to benefit the neighborhood’s parks and/or greenbelts. Schedule a tree planting day and make it a neighborhood-wide fun event. Approach your county’s extension office for trees that can be provided for your project. The extension office can also provide great advice on the soil of your area and the very best trees to plant, ensuring they thrive in existing conditions and will be disease-hardy.

Sustainable forestry is not just for agricultural majors, it is a concept of land stewardship. When we all together practice the ethic of reforestation in our lives -- whether the motivation is a post-drought scenario, a recent wildfire, or any number of reasons why we might find our region lacking trees --  it makes our world much greener and more beautiful when we all take the time to plant a tree.