Key's Pines Pack Carbon Punch

June 10, 2009 
 

A letter writer recently recommended that we take down Australian pines along Midnight Pass Road because of the problems of traffic and clean up after a storm. I wondered if he might want to expand that thinking and take down all the live oaks as well (which fall pretty mightily), along with several other tree groups. All of these are subject to pitching over when we experience high winds, so one might as well be efficient.

In my almost 15 years of walking on Midnight Pass, I can only think of one time that a few trees and/or tree limbs fell, and they weren't all Australian pines. Recently, Meg Lowman (Director of Environmental Initiatives at New College) noted that these mightily picked-on aliens have a larger capacity to transfer carbon dioxide than many native trees.

So perhaps the writer might ponder his efficiency attitude while we continue to enjoy the beauty and the shade of these dangerous trees.

Mary L. Powers

Siesta Key

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