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This week the Pasco County Board of Commissioners voted to amend its tree mitigation fund.

The new rules set a 10,000-dollar cap per acre on the fees developers have to pay when they can’t meet tree replacement or maintenance requirements.

These fees in the previous requirements were higher when developers removed “heritage trees.” Now, the distinction is eliminated from the fund.

Instead of the definition, now development project applications must include tree location surveys, inventories for trunks 10 inches DBH and larger and a certified removal plan prepared.

The county has a goal of preserving 20% of trees giving priority to those that help with drought-prevention.

But residents during the meeting called the measures insufficient.

“This means to me that the commission is willing to let go of 70 or 80% of the trees in Pasco County,” Nancy Hazelwood said. She also criticized the lack of community input in drafting the measure. “The trees in Pasco County are our natural resources and our water supply and here’s a question: can a child live with only 20 or 30% of his body? I don’t think the trees can either.”

Her concerns were echoed by Little Lakes resident Maryanne Bishop. She said the measure wasn’t considering the communication that exists between tree populations to maintain ecosystems.

“A mature oak or maple already supports hundreds of insect species, which means food for dozens of bird species. Removing a healthy tree erases decades of habitat in one afternoon,” Bishop said. “Oaks also provide carbon sequestration and air quality, erosion control, transpiration and cooling.”

The changes to the fund also included an exemption from canopy preservation requirements for minor rural subdivisions and commercial developments.

Pasco County amended the fund last summer.

Despite the pushback, the board approved the proposal, arguing it balanced Pasco’s growth and conservation efforts.

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