SAVE OUR TREES
Trees are everywhere (thankfully!) and we love them for SO many reasons. But did you know that drifting herbicides can leave visible injury to your trees and plants in your yard, local park, street, or vegetable garden?
Prairie Rivers Network and our partners in the Save Our Trees Coalition want to raise awareness about the prevalence of herbicide pollution and the threats it poses to our communities. Each ribbon you see around town is a visual reminder of the importance of trees to our community. From providing shade and comfort to critical habitat, food, and oxygen, our trees are critical to our survival and our ability to withstand the dramatically changing climate.
So what’s happening?
Over the last several years, there has been an increased use and reliance of herbicides in agricultural production and chemical lawn treatments. Even when applied by the rules of the labels, these chemicals do not always stay put, and in certain temperatures, some herbicides have a tendency to vaporize and drift long distances through the air. This video helps to show how herbicides can drift and cause damage!
What does this mean for our trees?
Unfortunately, we are seeing widespread damage to trees and other plants across Illinois and the Midwest. While unintended, our trees are suffering at the cost of these chemicals.
Declines in tree health, canopy thinning and increased tree death are evident in many areas of the state. Declines in the health and vitality of trees can have numerous impacts that may ripple through ecosystems.
“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it”
Prairie Rivers Network and the Save Our Trees Coalition want community members to know what damage looks like on their own trees and what to do about it. But like the saying goes, once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Signs of damage are all too frequent across the state. Below there are are a few examples of what damage and injury look like and you can find more in-depth information here.
Take Action!
Here are some things you can do right NOW to help our trees, neighbors and our community:
- Stop chemical lawn treatment of your yard. Drifting herbicides do not obey property lines and can harm the health of our wild and cultivated landscapes, communities, and our health. Consider going with native plants instead of that lush green lawn.
- Ask your children’s school and your local park district if they intend to use chemical lawn treatment. If so, ask them to stop.
- Donate! Prairie Rivers Network needs your financial support to keep this work in motion. Please donate today!
ABOUT US
At Prairie Rivers Network (PRN), we protect water, heal land, and inspire change. Using the creative power of science, law, and collective action, we protect and restore our rivers, return healthy soils and diverse wildlife to our lands, and transform how we care for the earth and for each other. PRN is the Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.
Save Our Trees – Coalition for Herbicide Use Accountability
A group of nonprofits, landowners, land managers, conservationists, growers, parents, and everyday people working together to build awareness of the prevalence and impacts of herbicide drift across Illinois.
