One teenager’s reaction to the destruction of a conservation project can teach us all something about perseverance.
In King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, 16-year-old Sam Montich planted 62 trees to prevent stormwater from flooding Crow Creek in a local park, CBS News reported. But in June, a board member of the Shade Tree Commission discovered that 15 of the trees had been damaged or stolen.
So they installed a trail camera to catch the perpetrators if they tried to tamper with the remaining trees again. They did, and now Upper Merion police have released photos of two young people they say are responsible for the incident.
“I just don’t understand it,” Montich told CBS.
If arrested, the suspects could be charged with several crimes, the news agency reported.
“It’s disappointing. Obviously, that’s why we’re taking these steps to identify these individuals,” Det. Andrew Rathfon told CBS. “But yes, this project was done to beautify the community.”
The Upper Merion Shade Tree and Beautification Commission protects trees and green spaces in the community and is comprised of volunteers. Such organizations and the projects they carry are vital to our way of life as rising global temperatures place increasing pressures on ecosystems, wildlife and people.
Burning dirty energy sources like oil, gas and coal is responsible for record heat and the more frequent and severe extreme weather events that have characterized the climate crisis in recent years. These events include heavy rainfall and flooding, the effects of which can be mitigated by trees as they slow the flow of rainwater and soak it up.
“My plan now is to trust the members of my community and hope that these people are identified,” Montich told CBS. “I and the Shade Tree Commission will go back and replant these trees.”
You can take action like Montich by planting and maintaining trees around your home. This can save you money on your bills and increase the value of your property by regulating the temperature in and around your home.
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