A committee of Troup County residents is looking at ways to plant more trees and protect the ones already here.

County planner Nancy Seegar told the County Commission on Friday that the “Troup Treemendous” committee has applied for a $20,000 urban and community grant, which would be used to increase education about trees and pay for an arborist to work with the county. The committee already has decided to plant trees in conjunction with Arbor Day at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center on Lafayette Parkway.

“If we receive this grant, we can expand our education efforts,” Seeger said.

The commission recently passed an ordinance that helps property owners protect trees of historic significance. Part of the tree preservation ordinance, the heritage tree program aims to list and protect approved trees on the county heritage tree register, which will document noteworthy trees or groves of trees and the significance they have to communities in the county.

“Trees are very important to our culture and to maintaining the character of an area,” Seegar said. “They also are important for cooling and to the environment, for aesthetics and a variety of other reasons. We think it’s a quality-of-life issue.”

In devising the heritage tree program, the county’s Planning and Zoning Department studied similar ordinances in several Georgia counties, including Cherokee and Coweta.

“We combined the best parts of these into something that gives us the opportunity to save trees but is not overly burdensome for property owners,” Seegar said, adding that the program must be “property owner-driven.”

“We’re looking for people to let us know if they have a tree on their property that they think might be a heritage tree, whether due to its history, age, size, species or ecological value,” she said. “If the tree is designated as a heritage tree, it will have some protection. We believe that maintaining the register will result in appropriate care and consideration being given to otherwise vulnerable trees in changing areas.”

Any tree designated a Georgia, United States or world champion by the American Forestry Association would be named a heritage tree.

“Troup County has many great trees,” said Kaye Minchew, executive director of the Troup County Archives. “We have many beautiful shade trees while others are especially wonderful during the spring blooming season or fall foliage. Some of these trees have stood vigil for longer than Troup County’s 182 years of existence. Many are treasured by their property owners but after the owners die, the trees are lost to new development. The heritage tree program will help ensure the long-term survival of these trees.”

The ordinance says any resident may nominate a tree and, with the written consent of the property owner, it will be reviewed by the arborist, who may designate it a heritage tree, if its health, aerial space and root system are deemed sufficient.

After a nominee reaches heritage tree distinction, it becomes unlawful for anyone to remove, cut, prune or injure the tree without a permit from the arborist. Heritage trees may be removed only under certain circumstances, such as when they become safety hazards or are diseased and not likely to survive.

“Developers could clear-cut property unless heritage trees are designated as such,” Seegar said. “The developer has to make every effort to save heritage trees.”

The heritage tree register may include listings of the oldest, tallest, largest and rarest of native and exotic tree species in Troup County.

“We want people to be aware that the opportunity to protect trees important to them is available,” Seegar said. “If you have trees you’d like the county to consider on your property, please contact me.”

Seegar may be reached by email at nseegar@troupco. org.