It’s a win for the trees of our state — and all of us who depend on them! The sponsor of legislation which would have gutted local tree-save ordinances withdrew his bill from consideration in the North Carolina General Assembly last week.

At present, many North Carolina municipalities require that new construction developments preserve some mature wooded areas when they build. As introduced, Senate Billl 367 would have overturned most of these local tree-save ordinances across the state.

It would have either barred those requirements, or dictated that new plantings could be used to satisfy them. Such new plantings are worthwhile, but take decades to provide the same benefits as mature trees.

Fortunately, a good year for pro-environment candidates in last year’s election cycle has clearly empowered greener voices in the legislature and across our state. Concerned citizens and local governments across the state spoke out in protest against SB 367, and they were heard.

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