Tree trooper program kicks off

For the first time in Louisiana forestry history, tree troopers are coming to the Bayou Region in an effort to preserve the perishing trees in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

The Louisiana Urban Forestry Council, in conjunction with the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center (Terrebonne Parish office) and the Terrebonne Parish Tree Board are joining forces to offer the program, which teaches proper planting and maintenance of trees in the urban environment.

The class is part of the annual tree trooper program, designed to enhance the urban forest through personal and community stewardship of trees in the Tri-Parish area.

“We’re very excited about this program,” said Joe Baucum, president of LUFC. “Our goal is to provide a volunteer-based organization as a resource for local government and neighborhood associations.”

Since its inception in 2003, the tree trooper program has been hosted in Metairie, New Orleans, Covington and Alexandria.

The classes are scheduled for Tuesday nights, beginning on Sept. 25 until Nov. 13. All classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., in the conference room at the Louisiana Department of Transportation Building, 5056 W. Main St. in Houma, located behind the South Central Planning and Development Commission.

There is a $25 course fee for incidentals.

Instructors include Tom Campbell, Barton Joffrion, Dan Gill, Dr. Don Reed, Dr. Dale

Pollet and Dr. Don Ferrin. The instructors will educate the troopers on environmental awareness and basic arboricultural principles.

Troopers will gain 14 hours of classroom and outdoor training, participating in tree identification drills, site suitability procedures, proper planting technique drills and more. Upon graduating from the program, tree troopers will commit 20 hours of volunteer work to any tree-related projects.

For more information or to register, contact Michael Knobloch at (985) 686-9391.