By Joyce Kryszak
Tonawanda, NY – The Silver Maple might not only be an endangered species on three streets in Amherst. Some urban foresters have Silver Maples on a so-called "hit list" of trees to eliminate from the urban and suburban landscape.
Amherst town residents fought hard to protect the grand Silver Maples that were part of their neighborhoods for eight decades. But foresters and town officials say they probably never should have been planted there in the first place.
Experts say the trees are brittle, snapping like candy canes under stress. They also have aggressive roots that can damage sidewalks. Robert Anderson is Town Highway Superintendent in Amherst. He said developers weren't thinking about any of that.
"They were a fast growing tree like a Willow tree. You can stick 'em in the ground and they just grow fast in a lot of size and shape canopy and that's why they were used a long time ago," said Anderson. "You can't go to a nursery and buy a Silver Maple today. They're just not one of the recommended plantings for our communities."
The Town of Tonawanda reached the same conclusion.
Jack Schiffereli is a forestry foreman who has worked for the town for 22 years. He said Silver Maples have never been on any replanting list that he can remember. Still, he said they are not targeting them for removal before their time.
"I mean people love their trees. They love their trees. That's our job to protect them," said Schifferli. "And, don't forget, the trees are taking out the carbon monoxide, producing the oxygen. They are houses for squirrels and birds and all that stuff. You can't go ripping everything down."
But he said when they do have to be replaced, a lot more careful thought goes into picking replacements.
He said the right fit is a consideration. And he said they now plan for future devastation by planting a few different varieties on each street.
"So, if you have a disease come through, or a storm come through, you don't lose [all the trees on] the whole street," said Schifferli. "That's what our goal is."
The Town of Tonawanda has about thirty varieties of trees from which it picks. Amherst has about fifteen. Officials from both towns say that residents do have some say in helping to decide the future canopy for their neighboorhoods.
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