The Marple Tree Commission Lecture Series presents ‘Get to know our native oaks’
Andrew Conboy, an ISA-certified arborist and urban forester who is a member of the Urban Forestry Consulting Team at Morris Arboretum, will be giving a public lecture on native oak trees in Marple Township.
Sponsored by the Marple Tree Commission, the March 28 lecture is slated for 10 to 11 a.m. at the Marple Township Library.
Conboy told Fideri News Network that oak trees are Pennsylvania’s “keystone” tree and ubiquitous across much of the U.S.
Oak trees play a huge role in many woodland ecosystems, he said.
“The recent research of Doug Tallamy and his lab at the University of Delaware has shown that native oak trees feed more species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) caterpillars (more than 500 species in the Delaware Valley) than any other type of native plant species,” said Conboy.
“They also support hundreds of other insects and animals with their leaves, acorns, and shelter. This is important because insects, especially caterpillars, are the top food item for birds, which they feed to their young,” he said.
“Overall, oak trees move more energy through the food web (from the sun, to insects, to birds, to predators) than any other native tree and plant, helping to support our declining insect and bird wildlife,” said Conboy.
Pennsylvania has “close to 20 native oak species.”
“At least one species that is well-suited to almost any soil type and moisture condition. They are generally long-lived, great for carbon sequestration, and their leaf litter helps mitigate flooding. Many native American cultures, including the Lenape, would manage the woodlands and grasslands for oak trees and other food-bearing trees like chestnuts and hickories. Acorns were a staple food crop for them and also attracted game, which they hunted,” he said.
“With the climate and biodiversity crises ongoing, there are few better options than planting an oak, and I hope to convince people to consider planting one on their property,” said Conboy.
Susan Day, Marple Tree Commission chair, said the commission began in 2011 and is charged with preserving and enhancing the township’s tree canopy.
“We do this through community engagement, education, stewardship, and of course, planting trees,” said Day. “Over the past15 years, the Commission has planted over 1000 trees throughout Marple, providing many benefits to our residents, ranging from cleaner air and water, reduced stormwater run-off, and trapping excess carbon dioxide to reduce climate warming…all while bringing us closer to nature.”
As well as sponsoring lectures, the tree commission volunteers “check our parks to make sure the trees we plant thrive and are protected from deer and invasives,” said Day. “Finally, we advise the township on matters relating to trees and our green spaces, as well as maintaining Marple’s Tree City USA status, now in our 20th year.”
“We are always looking for volunteers,” she added.
In addition to working at the Morris Arboretum, Conboy helps municipalities, landscape architects, institutions, and other clients manage and improve their tree resources. He founded an ecological restoration nonprofit organization, Community Canopy Project, in the Plymouth-Whitemarsh area that removes invasive species and restores native plants.
