City Trees Get Help; Recovery of Storm-Damaged Greenery Still Needs Work and Contributions

The damage done to trees by the October Surprise storm was heart- wrenching, and it was clear from the beginning that many resources would have to be pooled to help the urban forest recover. That effort got a huge boost recently, HSBC Bank sent $100,000 to the Olmsted ReLeaf campaign.

Much of the donation, presented to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy by bank officials, represented money given by individuals to help replace trees in the city’s historic parks and parkways. The remainder came from the bank’s charitable foundation, which had agreed to match dollar for dollar contributions totaling up to $50,000.

Buffalo always has been a city of trees. Ironically, that could work to mask the urgency of recovery needs. Where greenery is almost an afterthought, and the quality-of-life enhancement is taken for granted, complacency about the urban forest can set in. October’s heavy snows on branches still laden with leaves shattered much of that forest, but the full impact on greenery won’t be evident until spring.

HSBC’s large donation, and the smaller donations of many residents already aware of the need, are a welcome sign that Buffalo will meet this challenge. Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy CEO Jonathan Holifield has estimated replacement costs at $1.05 million to $1.4 million, based on the projected cost of $350 per tree. HSBC is continuing to accept donations to the Olmsted ReLeaf fund at any of the bank’s Western New York branches, and contributions can be mailed to the Conservancy office at 84 Parkside Ave. It’s a campaign worth supporting.

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