The Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) and the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Urban and Community Forestry Program have joined forces to champion urban forestry initiatives across South Carolina through a new program called Trees4SC! With funding from the USDA Forest Service, courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the City of Dillon was selected to receive help with mapping and tree planting in underserved communities. The Trees4SC! program aims to equitably distribute access to trees and the benefits they provide for clean water, reduced flooding, clean air, shade and beautification. Three cities, including Dillon, Camden, and Walterboro, were selected to receive support for this second round of funding to plan for and plant trees over the next two years, beginning in 2025.
Urban forests provide many benefits to the community. GIC’s Community Forest Planner Marsha Potter explains, “Trees serve as natural air purifiers by removing pollution, and they filter pollution from stormwater runoff.” Especially important for Southern cities such as Dillon, are the shade benefits that trees provide. Trees can significantly reduce heat, making neighborhoods less hot and saving residents and businesses money spent on air conditioning. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses.” Urban forests also serve as crucial habitats for wildlife, such as the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker. Beyond their environmental benefits, trees support public health. Well treed neighborhoods have lower rates of asthma and people are more likely to exercise outdoors. Trees also increase property values. These benefits collectively contribute to more resilient and thriving communities.
Over the next year, GIC will help Dillon to develop a plan for the urban forest. GIC will create maps of the tree cover in the city, open space where trees could be planted, and opportunity maps illustrating where trees can offer the most benefit to the community. Tree planting campaigns will be launched in the community to engage residents in learning about the benefits of trees and proper tree care. Trees will be distributed by GIC to be planted within the City of Dillon.
If you are interested in being a part of the committee that will learn about Dillon’s tree canopy and help decide on where trees should be planted within the city, contact Stephanie Mitchell at steph.dilloncommunityalliance@gmail.com. If you would just like to attend educational workshops about the benefits of trees and tree planting and care, contact GIC’s Marsha Potter or Tom Knowles.
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Founded in 2006, the Green Infrastructure Center is a nonprofit organization that assists communities in developing strategies for protecting and conserving their ecological and cultural assets. The GIC conducts research, land-use planning and land assessment and mapping to provide the suite of tools needed by communities to protect and restore green assets. For more information visit https://gicinc.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawG-2OFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTbBbB5Dea1w4TmoXms9aAAAHazC8iMgZgEuPLtxv-NuPZ3Hjb5CUOP6cQ_aem_ZUcriEziYIf_-TaouS3Qvw
