Greenville Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 36) A Tree Grows In Greenville How More Green Space Can Change Our City by brandy Woods snoW rowth and green space – two terms that seemingly contradict one another – hold vital importance to the life of a prosperous community. In many cases, too much growth too quickly can literally strip the natural landscape of countless trees and native vegetation. This not only negatively impacts the aesthetic appeal of a developed area but simultaneously destroys the natural habitat of various animals and creates significant failures in the management of pollution and storm water runoff. The key is to create balance with an agenda of sustainable growth, where economic development and nature coexist to maximize the region’s full potential. We’ve experienced explosive growth in the last two decades, but did you know that during this time, the population in the area has increased nearly 40 percent, while the rate of land conversion to urban growth has exceeded 200 percent? In a 2002 Smart Growth America report, the Greenville-Spartanburg metropolitan area was ranked the fifth most sprawling region in the nation. We’ve lost a lot of our natural greenery and decreased our tree canopy. And, unless we find a way to maintain these natural assets, there will be no green left in Greenville. In response to these skyrocketing urban development rates, legislation has been implemented and organizations founded with the purpose of achieving balance between economic growth and preservation of Greenville’s natural landscape. In January 2008, the Greenville County Council enacted a tree conservation ordinance that recognizes the importance of tree cover and notes its purpose as such: “…to mitigate the adverse effects of the loss of trees in Greenville County occurring as a result of residential land development. The intent of this ordinance is to protect the rights of all citizens and property owners by insuring that a reasonable and prudent policy of replenishment of tree cover is applied during the process of residential land development.” The ordinance’s three objectives are to maintain tree canopy cover at or above current levels, maintain and improve community character and quality of life and enhance aesthetic appeal. The policy establishes requirements for a tree protection plan and stream-side tree buffers to lessen storm water runoff. Trees Greenville, formed in 2005 to help preserve the quality of life in the Upstate, seeks to educate residents on the importance of trees to the community. “Trees Greenville recognizes that economic growth and development in the region is inevitable,” says Joelle Teachey, the group’s executive director. “Our objective is to provide educational material and resources advocating sustain- G 36 Greenville MaGazine | april 2008
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