I am a landscape designer who has lived in the area for the past 23 years. My love for the unique beauty of the area has only increased with time.

I am writing out of concern that many of our beautiful trees are being cut down because of our fear. I know that the record snowfall last year caused a lot of damage and that many trees were severely injured. There are many cases where the damage is too great and the trees need to be removed in the interest of safety.

But I am seeing more and more instances where trees are taken down not because they show any damage but for the fear of the damage they might cause in the event of another storm.

We cannot know what Mother Nature has in store for us in the way of future hurricanes or snowstorms. What we do know is this: According to the N.C. Forest Service, one large longleaf pine puts out the cooling effect of five large air conditioners. This cools not only the outside but also reduces air-conditioning costs inside.

We also know that they filter out pollutants, (a whopping 10 pounds of pollution per year for every large shade tree), and provide needed oxygen, not to mention the added aesthetic beauty they add to our unique community.

I applaud those of you who say, “No thank you,” to those canvassing the streets looking for trees to remove. I hope that others who are considering such moves will pause to think about the trees vital role in our ecosystem.

Gail Scott

Southern Pines