Tree commission schedules BioBlitz, agrees to review recommended tree list

At the end of the April 15 meeting the Athens Shade Tree Commission announced a BioBlitz for street-tree identification and inventory. Due to forecasted rain, organizers moved the event from Saturday to Sunday at 11 a.m. at West Elementary (one Curran Drive). Participants will photograph trees and upload records to iNaturalist to aid the city's street-tree inventory.

Commissioners also discussed overhauling the city's recommended plant list. One member moved that Gary Connelly (co-chair, Ohio Invasive Plant Council) review the list and compare it with NRCS state-by-state recommendations; commissioners agreed to the review and to return recommendations to the commission. Administrative items included updating the commission website and establishing a listserv for internal communications. The meeting adjourned following those items.