Efforts to protect established trees and plant new ones have flourished in Bryan County in the past decade. But like roots and canopy, tree advocacy has grown into different shapes on the two ends of the county.
In Richmond Hill and the coastal area, volunteers have focused on planting select species of hardwood trees to restore some of what has been lost. But the city of Pembroke was the first local government to put the force of law behind efforts to protect existing trees.
Pembroke Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Sharroll Fanslau sees the drive to protect trees as an outgrowth of local people’s interest in preserving the historic landscape. She coordinates the Pembroke Tree Board’s activities and record keeping but is not an official board member.

Read more in the Feb. 29 edition of the News.