FLORIDA — A new University of Florida campaign encourages homeowners to reconsider removing dead trees from their yards, highlighting the ecological benefits of leaving wood to decay naturally.
The initiative, called Neighborwood Watch, is led by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers and aims to raise awareness about how dead wood supports biodiversity. The campaign includes academic publications, an informational website, and homeowner surveys.
“We are trying to help people understand that there is a cycle to a tree’s life, and it does not end when the tree is still green and big,” said Jiri Hulcr, a professor of forest entomology in the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences.
“It really ends decades after that, when all the nutrients have been returned back into the ecosystem and into our soil.”
Between 2001 and 2023, Florida lost 28% of its tree canopy, according to Global Forest Watch. While many trees were removed due to development, storms, disease, and fires, some did not need to be cleared entirely.
Inspired by European cities that preserve dead wood in landscapes, some Florida residents are integrating dead trees, logs, and branches into their yards. These features, sometimes called “wildlife poles” or “snags,” provide habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife competing for space in urban areas.
Wendy Wilber, coordinator of the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer program, turned a decaying tree in her yard into a wildlife pole by leaving a portion of the trunk standing. Now, pileated woodpeckers frequently visit her property.
“It’s always such a joy when I hear the knocking, and I know there’s a big woodpecker out here searching for beetles and beetle larvae,” said Ms Wilber.
According to UF/IFAS researchers, 25 bird species in Florida, including the pileated woodpecker and the white-breasted nuthatch, rely on dead wood for nesting. The Neighborwood Watch campaign provides homeowners with guidance on safely incorporating dead trees into their yards while addressing common concerns, such as termite risks and fire hazards.
“If we remove all the dead and dying trees, then we really deprive the ecosystem,” Mr Hulcr said.
“We should take care of them. We understand there’s a lot of wisdom, there’s a lot of legacy in them.”
More information is available at neighborwoodwatch.org.
