SOS Elms
In 1992 a small group of citizens concerned about the vulnerability of Saskatoon's 100,000 signature American elms to Dutch Elm Disease (DED) infection, formed the SOS Elms Coalition. SOS Elms promotes local initiatives to improve the viability of healthy urban forests.
Also in 1992, the Saskatchewan Dutch Elm Association (SDEDA) was established, expanding the scope of elm surveillance to include 300,000 additional urban elms province-wide.
SOS Elms initiatives thus far have included:
- Organizing a major urban forestry conference;
- Setting up information booths at the Saturday Farmers' Market and Gardenscape exhibitions (in partnership with SDEDA);
- publishing and distributing province-wide, two editions of the "Homeowner's Guide to Elm Care and DED Prevention in Saskatchewan" (with SDEDA);
- offering an Adopt-a-Tree program, a draw for tree pruning services, and a "Find the Largest Elm" contest;
- participation in International Children's Festival events and SPLIT (Schools Plant Legacies in Trees);
- initiating the Adopt an Elm Program, an interactive school program for grade 3-5, with accompanying guide;
- designing two public service announcement videos (with Saskatchewan Environment) on identification of signs of DED and transporting elm firewood;
- offering two community tree tours and producing accompanying tree tour guides in booklet form (with the support from the Saskatoon Foundation, City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Environment, and Meewasin);
- presenting a session on ideas for community action in DED control at a SDEDA workshop;
- attending City Council and various forums on urban forest matters;
- making media presentations and giving interviews;
- writing letters about tree protection and DED prevention at the local and provincial levels;
- lobbying to save heritage trees such as those at the former Gathercole site, Woodlawn Cemetery, and Patterson Gardens on the University of Saskatchewan campus;
- developing newsletters for the membership; and
- maintaining the website http://soselms.org.
All of these activities have been carried out by members of a small, non-profit organization - a testament to the power of community environmental action.
See also http://www.soselms.org
Submitted by Judith Benson
"SOS Elms promotes local initiatives to improve the viability of healthy urban forests in Saskatoon."