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Who Owns A Tree?

Who owns a tree?

We human beings exhibit some complicated, often conflicting emotions over our tree's. In the abstract we understand our dependence on timber for shelter, comfort, even the daily newspaper, yet we are slowly comprehending the critical importance of standing forests to the environment. In our daily language we have adopted the tree as a symbol--the tree of liberty, the tree of knowledge, and the old family favorite the family tree. We also seem to have a personal craving for trees. We bring them into our office building and shopping malls, tend little forests along city streets and many of us fondly remember the excitement of childhood tree planting ceremonies on Arbor Day.

But, by far, the most powerful feelings emerge over trees in our own yards.---the trees we own. We plant, water,trim even decorate them. We build tree houses and hang swings and bird feeders in them. An we relax under them, relishing the shade and beauty. Most tree owners expect everybody else to love their trees. This, of course is not always the case. The neighbor who lives downwind and has to rake up somebody else's leaves may despise the tree. And large trees can cause enormous problems--blocking views, producing invasive roots or dropping rotting fruit and especially if  ill, threatening to fall on houses cars or people.

But one thing is certain. We take ownership and protection of our trees very seriously in this country and this is reflected in the law. An annoyed neighbor who decides simply to get rid of someone else's tree and gets out a chainsaw can be in for very nasty legal consequences.

Posted Saturday Dec 10