Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 4/5/01
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   122

MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HAMMOND TREE PROJECT
     HAMMOND --Volunteers are still needed to finish an inventory of Hammond public trees.
     "You can spend a morning, either by yourself or with a friend, driving, riding, or walking
around Hammond, enjoying our trees and doing something useful," said Southeastern Louisiana
University professor Bonnie Lewis. "You can learn exactly what a public tree is and how to
determine its condition, and, at the same time, help us by identifying major trees and recording
basic information about them." 
     Lewis, director of the Florida Parishes Social Science Research Center (FPSSRC) at
Southeastern, is coordinating "Comprehensive Mapping for Smart Growth Planning," a project to
survey and map Hammond's trees and to develop a "smart growth plan" for city forestation. The
project is being conducted by the FPSSRC with assistance of the City of Hammond and the
Hammond Tree Foundation..                
     Lewis said more than 3,100 trees have been inventoried since the project began last fall. The
tree project has been a group effort, she said.
     "Hammond Tree Foundation members have given much needed advice. City of Hammond
mapping staff member Lisa Phinney has patiently entered the collected information about the
trees onto computerized maps, under the direction of C.C. Gaiennie, head of the city building
department," Lewis said. "Louisiana Urban Forester Paul Orr has conducted part of the inventory
and offered training. Master gardener volunteers trained by the LSU Cooperative Extension
program, community members, and Southeastern students all responded to our last request for
help." 
     Lewis said the maps will be used by city officials to insure that the trees are appropriately
cared for. They will also help identify where further plantings are possible and what trees would
be desirable in certain areas. 
     To spread the word about what the tree inventory and mapping project, Lewis spoke on
"Community Attitudes Toward Urban Forestry" at an urban forestry workshop in New Iberia in
March. Her talk focused on the Hammond community's involvement in urban forestry work
though groups such as Hammond's Urban Forestry Council, the Hammond Tree Foundation, area
garden clubs, and the Hammond City Council. She detailed how the mapping project relates to a
quality of life survey conducted by the FPSSRC in five Florida Parishes last summer.
     "Trees benefit property values, air quality, and cooling costs. With trees around, people feel
more safe and relaxed. They create beauty," Lewis said. "Each individual is a part of the urban
forest. Urban forestry can not be done by only some individuals or the city government; it needs
everyone to give a hand. Caring for our trees and the tree project is important work because it is
dedicated to bettering our lives through trees."
     Interested volunteers can contact Lewis at blewis@selu.edu or 549-5120. Training will be
provided. 
     "Come on, go out and enjoy the fresh air, green leaves and beautiful flowers of spring,"
Lewis said. "Your help will be highly appreciated."
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm