Trees Forever: 'ReLeaf Cedar Rapids’ plan will require community’s help

Tears were shed. Every chain saw from surrounding states was deployed. We lost our way around town because we had lost our wayfinders — large mature trees.

For the first time, homes that had been graced with the privacy and shade of large trees were now visible. Debris along streets grew into mountains. We desperately tried to keep those trees that were left standing whenever possible. Together we experienced a catastrophic disaster that required all hands on deck — and we responded by helping clear driveways, checking on elders and feeding each other.

The post-traumatic stress was real, and a lot of it had to do with loss of trees we had grown attached to — some of which landed on roofs and greeted people inside their homes when they fell. Any time the winds pick up, our fears go up. These are the things I have personally experienced and still hear about. Yes, tears are still being shed as people drive or walk around town.

Because Trees Forever’s mission is all about trees, we were in a unique position to help and immediately went to work responding with all available resources. That was in spite of our staff suffering a lot of damage to their own homes and properties. By the end of this spring, we were exhausted but feeling good about all the trees planted, responses to hundreds of phone calls and web inquires along with adopting out more than 6,000 trees to private homeowners.

All in all, I am very proud of the Trees Forever response to the August 2020 derecho, and I am very proud of our entire community for all the assistance provided to the multitude of needs. We are forever grateful to our many volunteers, individuals and corporate donors who continue to contribute both dollars and sweat equity.

By the end of 2021, we will have a comprehensive ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan, including detailed replanting designs for 38 parks and recommendations for streets and neighborhoods, with an emphasis on equity and resiliency. Planner Jeff Speck will present an update for the public at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Whipple Auditorium in the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Beyond Cedar Rapids, Trees Forever will continue to help nearby communities and towns of all sizes hit hard in the derecho through our Planting Hope program.

With the one-year anniversary of the derecho behind us, we need to adjust our mindsets to move forward. Let’s all get ready to pick up our shovels and watering buckets. This replanting effort will take an army of volunteers, fields full of trees and lots of small steps on both public and private lands for the next decade. We have to be about growing trees — not just about planting trees. The trees must be watered and cared for to ensure they survive, especially in the first three years. Let’s emphasize diversity of native species, planting trees to regrow our canopy where we have room for full sized trees that nurture wildlife and pollinators.

Please sign up to volunteer and consider becoming a TreeKeeper to help your neighborhood replant and care for new trees at www.treesforever.org/volunteer

Shannon Ramsay is founding president and CEO of Trees Forever.