Call to Action: Preserve LSU’s Oaks

November 4, 2008 —The howling winds of Hurricane Gustav tore through Baton Rouge this fall, leaving behind a long list of repairs on LSU’s campus. In all, the university suffered more than $11.8 million of damage, with significant damage to LSU’s “urban forest,” the collection of trees that provide LSU with its legendary natural beauty.

Gustav felled approximately 200 large, mature trees across campus, requiring thousands of hours of removal and restoration work from LSU’s Landscape Services crew, who are now focused on re-populating campus with a new generation of inspiring arbors.

Many of the trees that toppled under Gustav’s assault fell simply to the force of the hurricane’s unyielding winds. Still, there were others whose demise was aided due to structural weakness, disease, or animal damage. Early detection and treatment of these conditions within LSU’s landscape can help moderate the damage to LSU’s forest during events like Hurricane Gustav. And there is strong evidence of that fact when the good news from Gustav is examined; of LSU’s 1,200 live oak trees, the “stately oaks” of legend, only 10% suffered significant damage due to the hurricane, with only one live oak lost.

These live oaks are the focus of the LSU Foundation’s Endow an Oak program, dedicated to providing these campus landmarks with the preventative maintenance and support needed to be able to withstand events like Gustav, as well as the everyday environmental pressures of life on campus.

“We do feel that the mulching and other arboricultural health care treatment we have been performing for many years now has improved the overall strength of the trees and their ability to weather storms,” said Fred Fellner, Assistant Director of Facilities Services at LSU. “The Endowment program provides much needed funding to perform this cultural care.”

At LSU, 240 live oak trees are endowed through the LSU Foundation. When a live oak is endowed, half of the amount donated for the tree goes toward immediate care of the oaks, with the remaining half placed in an endowment. This endowment provides assistance to LSU’s limited budget for the maintenance of these campus treasures, ensuring that future generations will enjoy their presence at LSU.

Hurricane Gustav serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of endowing these oaks, and providing protection for a distinctive campus feature many of us take for granted. Now is the time for LSU alumni and friends to take action in raising the number of endowed oaks on campus. Endowments established today will help fortify LSU’s urban forest for the next hurricane to hit Baton Rouge, which, though we don’t know the date, will surely come.

“We are very grateful for the Endowment Program and genuinely excited when each new endowment occurs. Our eventual goal is to be able to support a dedicated ‘Live Oak Preservation Crew’ that is fully devoted to live oak care without the distractions or interruptions of other tree work or responsibilities,” said Fellner.

Endowing an oak is also an excellent way to honor or remember a family member, organization or individual that is close to you and LSU. When an oak is endowed, a plaque is placed near the base of the tree, naming it for the honoree. And it is an honor, which will stand as long as LSU remains. When an endowed tree dies, the endowment provides a replacement oak.

There are three different kinds of oaks available for endowment. The Quad Oaks are $50,000 each, the Parade Ground Oaks are $10,000 each and the Campus Oaks, located across campus, are $4,000 each. Donors may be individuals, families, organizations or companies.

For more information about oak endowments contact Darlene Hale at 225-578-3811 or email dhale@lsufoundation.org. To endow an oak online, visit the “Endow an Oak” page of the LSU Foundation website, www.lsufoundation.org.

Oak endowments are just one of many ways to support LSU through the Forever LSU campaign. Forever LSU is an historic effort to attain more than $750 million in support of LSU by the end of the year 2010. By joining the campaign, you are helping LSU maintain its tier-one status among American universities, and helping our University community achieve new levels of success and prominence. To learn more about how you can be LSU’s next hero, visit www.foreverlsu.org.