Urban Logging

The Urban Forest Council (UFC) has learned from several arborists working in the Spokane region that Ponderosa pines are being logged from backyards in our town. Loggers from the region come to the cities during the dry, summer off-season to remove trees from city residential lots. Stories about this urban logging practice have come to the UFC from Republic to Oakesdale.

We have also learned that some landscaping companies and tree services are earning a large portion of their revenue by removing native conifers from urban lots. Since the “logging” is on private property, no governmental agency can interfere.

People decide to have their trees removed for many reasons: the tree may be dead or dying, they may be expanding their home or garage, or they may be unable or unwilling to rake the pine needles and remove the cones that fall from these magnificent native trees.

Sometimes the homeowner is approached and told that their tree is diseased and may fall on their house (which may or may not be true). One new marketing technique is to hire people to walk up and down streets doorbelling and leaving flyers about a “great deal” or unique opportunity to have their trees removed and earn some cash if the tree is large enough. Often a new house buyer lives in the neighborhood for 3 to 5 years only to sell out and move on, leaving a void in the community forest canopy.

Please consider the long-term effects of tree removal before allowing someone to remove any trees from your yard.