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Worries grow with lawmaker's plan to kill tree rules ►aMM4 by Gaynem le Worries grow with lawmaker's plan to kill tree rules 11/14/17 8:38 AM By Cleveland Tinker Posted Nov 13, 2017 at 6:55 PM Updated Nov 13, 2017 at 6:55 PM Tree canopies in Alachua County and Gainesville are considered some of the most impressive in the state and country, both Lachnicht and Niederhofer said. Alachua County and the city of Gainesville take pride in their reputations as tree -loving communities, and a state legislator's proposal to dismantle local tree ordinances is not germinating well locally — or throughout the state. Last week in Tallahassee during committee meetings to prepare for the 2018 Florida Legislative Session, Sen. Greg Steube, R -Sarasota, introduced Senate Bill 574, which would cut down municipal tree ordinances that deal with "trimming, removal or harvesting of tree and timber on private property." The proposed bill would nullify tree ordinances statewide, including those protecting Gainesville's iconic canopy roads. "This proposed bill will allow the removal of any tree without having to plant another tree in its place," said Meg Niederhofer, a local tree advocate who was the city of Gainesville's arborist from 1988 to 2010. The city of Gainesville enacted its first tree ordinance in the late 1970s and Alachua County soon followed suit. Tree ordinances like the ones on the books in Alachua County and Gainesville have several purposes, Neiderhofer said. They protect open forest areas that help keep hurricanes from becoming as devastating as they otherwise might be, limit soil erosion, help reduce global warming, provide habitat for wildlife and protect the beauty of trees. Ordinances enacted by local governments to protect trees are important because they reflect how much communities value trees, said Steve Lachnicht, director of the Alachua County Growth Management Department. Placing a high value on protecting trees isn't unique to Alachua County, but this area is known for its tree - ,tip:/ /www.gainesville.com/news/20171113 /worries -grow -with -lawmakers -plan -to -kill -tree -rules Page I of 3 P146