Roadside trees have intrinsic, ecological, monetary and visual value that shouldn’t be wasted or controlled as a favor for one industry. Roadside trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, sequestering carbon from vehicle emissions. Their roots hold soil and inhibit runoff of noxious chemicals into Georgia waterways. They provide visual and sound buffers as well as habitat. They offer relief from blaring, distracting, sometimes distasteful visual noise.
Cutting and sending beneficial trees to landfills is unnecessary destruction of natural resources. Some states, such as Maine and Hawaii, no longer allow billboards, setting an admirable legal precedent for other states.
Tourist-oriented destination signs or TODS are allowed. Tourism is an important and successful part of those states. Georgia — with a diverse geography including mountains, rolling hills, coastal plains, 14 river watersheds, and coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico — has invaluable scenic and historic wealth for visitors and residents.
The Garden Club of Georgia, with more than 11,000 members and a beautification/conservation/education mission, has encouraged planting of roadside trees since 1929. State-provided logo signage near highway interchanges provides adequate information for travelers seeking gas, food and lodging.
Businesses do not have to rent billboards to attract customers. Other forms of advertising are available. Print media, radio and television, smartphones, Siri for iPhones, Google, Internet sites, GPS systems and other electronic devices and systems can expertly locate and provide maps and directions for travelers’ needs. They do not require cutting trees.
Scenic Georgia’s website says, “The tourist destinations in our country that enjoy the most success are those that pay attention to the tourist attractions, but also pay attention to the experience that the traveler has on the way to the tourist attraction. Some states that have the best tourist component to their economy have banned billboards entirely.”
Polling of Georgia voters by American Viewpoint in February 2009, with results provided to General Assembly members, found that trimming trees on public rights of way was opposed by 59 percent of those surveyed and supported by 39 percent. Moreover, 72 percent of voters opposed cutting down rights-of-way trees. Only 24 percent supported cutting them down.
Fortunately, as citizens educate themselves about conservation and other ecological matters — including the wise use of natural resources — and voice their wishes and needs to officials they elect, laws and judicial decisions can be revisited, reviewed, changed, repealed, overturned and reversed for everyone’s benefit.
By changes in law, raw sewage is not dumped into waterways; children are required to have schooling; meat is inspected; professionals are licensed; voting at 18 is legal; speed limits vary by location, and the public benefits.
Law evolves and laws change. The emperor’s new clothes could again be discovered to be nonexistent.
Mary Lovings is a longtime volunteer and board member for conservation organizations, including the Garden Club of Georgia and Scenic Georgia.