Help for gulf coast trees.

At the request of tree groups affected by Hurricane Katrina, AMERICAN FORESTS has launched a Katrina ReLeaf Fund to provide money for local communities to restore their tree canopy when conditions permit.

The effort is being undertaken with a host of local partners from universities and state forestry groups in the affected states; replanting will occur when conditions permit in 2006. Donations made to Katrina ReLeaf (http://www.americanforests.org/planttrees/) will be eligible for federal matching funds. All proceeds from a September promotion with the online auction service eBAY also were directed toward Katrina ReLeaf.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

As of press time, groups signed on as partners in Katrina ReLeaf included: U.S. Forest Service, Southeast Region; Southern University, Baton Rouge; Louisiana Forestry Commission; Louisiana Dept. of Forestry and Agriculture; Mississippi Forestry Commission; Alabama Forestry Commission; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Mississippi Urban Forest Council; Louisiana Urban Forest Council; and Alabama Urban Forest Council.

AMERICAN FORESTS worked extensively with communities in south Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, and lessons learned then can help those now dealing with Katrina, says Nancy Masterson, who served as AMERICAN FORESTS' rep in Florida.

One imporant lesson is that it is possible to save some downed trees. Restoring existing trees will help control stormwater, cool and clean the air, and remove toxins from groundwater, which is important now, especially in New Orleans. Trees also will restore a degree of the familiar to communities attempting to rebound from the disaster.

"We lost many valuable trees in the debris-clearing stage of recovery" after Andrew, Masterson says. "Had they been marked as salvageable, they could have been righted when time permitted." Trees in USDA growing zones 8 and 9 "will show vigor and resilience if they are saved by replanting," rather than allowed to be cut down.

Masterson offered the following tips:

1. Look for blown-down trees that were planted fairly recently and are still partially rooted. Cover as much of the root ball as possible with mulch, leaves, soil, or whatever is at hand. If possible, cover the root ball with burlap, sheets, or old blankets and wet it down; do not use plastic. If long lengths of root are exposed, cut cleanly to reduce water loss.

2. Post a sign--Save This Tree--or surround the tree with marker tape. It should survive until the next rainfall.

3. When residents return to replant, excavate a broad area on the windward side of the fallen tree. Make the hole wider than the width of the root ball and as deep. If you can't pull the tree to an erect position by hand, use a car or truck. When pulling up, protect the trunk with rags or soft material. Backfill the hole with soil and make a ring of dirt around the tree to help hold water.

4. Prune off damaged or broken branches at the branch bark collar, which is the slightly larger portion of the branch where it connects to the trunk. Do not cut inside this collar.

5. Mulch and water, then treat like a newly planted tree for the next three years, giving it frequent inspections and regular watering.

To contribute to AMERICAN FORESTS' Katrina ReLeaf, call 800/368-5748 or log onto our website at: http://www.americanforests.org/planttrees/.