KERSHAW, S.C. — Kershaw is one of three South Carolina towns chosen to take part in the initial Trees4SC program.
The new program will provide technical help with tree care and planting to enhance its tree canopy at no cost to the town.
The Green Infrastructure Center and the S.C. Forestry Commission’s Urban and Community Forestry Program have joined forces to champion urban forestry initiatives across South Carolina through the new Trees4SC program.
The program is 100% grant funded, with no match required by the town. The funding is coming from the USDA Forest Service, courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act, for tree care and planting in disadvantaged and underserved communities.
The Trees4SC program will equitably distribute access to trees and the many benefits they provide for clean water, reduced flooding, clean air, shade and beautification.
Three cities, including Kershaw, were selected to receive technical support to plan for and plant trees over the next two years, with a total of 12 cities assisted over the next four years. In 2024, Darlington and Lake City join Kershaw as the first communities to participate in the program.
Trees4SC will help Kershaw realize the many benefits that urban forests provide.
“We can think of trees as our green infrastructure because they provide us with critical ecosystem services. Trees serve as natural air purifiers by removing pollution, and they also filter pollution from stormwater runoff,” said Marsha Potter, community forest planner for GIC.
Especially important for Southern towns such as Kershaw are the shade benefits that trees provide. Trees can significantly reduce urban heating, making neighborhoods less hot and saving residents and businesses money on air conditioning. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses.
Urban forests also serve as crucial habitats for wildlife, such as the endangered red cockaded woodpecker.
Beyond their environmental benefits, trees also support public health. Well-treed neighborhoods have lower rates of asthma and people are more likely to exercise outdoors, too. Trees also increase property values. These benefits collectively contribute to more resilient and thriving communities.
Kershaw has applied to become a Tree City USA and this initiative will add more trees to the town. Kershaw will also focus on removal of invasive trees such as Bradford pears, which are prone to wind damage. Additionally, the town will focus on using trees to revitalize parks and other green spaces for residents.
Over the next year, Kershaw will receive help from GIC to establish a strategic tree canopy plan. GIC will develop maps of urban tree cover, open space where trees could be planted, and opportunity maps illustrating where trees can offer optimal ecosystem services. Tree-planting campaigns will be launched in the community to engage residents in learning about the benefits of trees and proper tree care.
The town is seeking interested citizens to serve on the project’s steering committee. Anyone interested is asked to contact Kershaw Town Administrator John Douglas at 803-475-6065. The committee will begin work in March.
Founded in 2006, the Green Infrastructure Center is a nonprofit organization that assists communities in developing strategies for protecting and conserving their ecological and cultural assets. The GIC conducts research, land-use planning and land assessment and mapping to provide the suite of tools needed by communities to protect and restore green assets. For more information, visit www.gicinc.org.
