The Future Takes ROOT
In 2017, Hurricane Irma roared ashore near Marco Island on September 10, packing 115 mile-per-hour winds. It was a devastating blow that destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure and decimated the Collier County landscape. The City of Naples alone lost almost 2,000 trees, so the county-wide toll, while unknown, was enormous. Unfortunately, reestablishing a tree canopy can take several years or decades.
From government agencies to local nonprofits, there are several collaborations and projects unfolding across Collier County to plant storm-hardy trees. Trees are imperative to the health and well-being of residents, wildlife, and the built environment. They provide shade, bird and wildlife habitats, erosion and water run-off control, beautification, transpiration, and photosynthesis, a process that includes converting carbon dioxide—a contributor to climate change—into oxygen. “Planting right trees in the right locations can be an important tool in
