Brunswick, Ga. – An Arbor Day Celebration will be held Feb. 18 from 10 a.m.-noon at the University of Georgia Brunswick Station and native plant demonstration garden, 715 Bay St. The event will include a free educational open house and is being hosted by UGA’s Marine Extension, Georgia Sea Grant’s EcoScapes program and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Georgia Arbor Day, which formerly takes place Feb. 21, is a day to reflect on the importance and value of the state’s trees. The Brunswick event will offer information on how to conserve, protect, select, plant and care for native trees. Mark McClellan, an urban forester with the Georgia Forestry Commission, will give a talk. Keren Giovengo, EcoScapes program manager, will share tips for selecting the right tree for specific site conditions found in Georgia. Attendees will learn how to correctly plant a tree, and free native tree seedlings will be available on a first-come basis.
“All living things depend on trees,” said Giovengo. “Not only do they provide us with food, oxygen, shelter, medicine and tools, but their value and beauty in the landscape continue to grow as more benefits are discovered.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen-enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. Trees and forests also clean and conserve water, reduce runoff and soil erosion and provide food and shelter for wildlife. After storms, trees help absorb and store rainwater, preventing flooding and the transport of chemicals into streams. Trees and forests also reduce air pollution and remove greenhouses gases from the air.
For more information or to become involved with the event, contact Giovengo at 912-280-1586.
Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant are Public Service and Outreach units of the University of Georgia. They provide research, education and outreach directed at creating a balanced approach toward land use, economic development and ecosystem health in the state’s coastal region. Georgia Sea Grant is one of 33 state programs funded by the National Sea Grant, which is housed under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Resources on how to appropriately select, plant and care for native trees in Costal Georgia include:
1. The Arbor Day Foundation lists general considerations on how to select the right tree, www.arborday.org/trees/rightTreeAndPlace.
2. The UGA MAREX and Georgia Sea Grant EcoScapes Native Plant Search Engine will generate a list of the correct native trees for Coastal Georgia areas, www.bugwood.org/coastscapes.
3. The Savannah Tree Foundation has a Guide to Planting and Caring for Trees in Coastal Georgia, www.savannahtree.com/learn/how-to-plant-care-for-trees.