TreePeople’s Role Takes Firm Root

The article “TreePeople--An Idea That Keeps on Growing” (Dec. 25) was generous and powerful but missed the forest for the trees on the issue of who and what is making a difference in Los Angeles.

Publicity about TreePeople often focuses on me as its leader, but undervalues the vital role that others play--both in our success and the healing of the environment.

It is the hard working people in the organization--especially the volunteer citizen foresters--who are actually on the streets making a difference in communities throughout Southern California. And it is the actions of individuals that will have the most profound impact.

Trees help heal the environment. But just planting any tree, any place doesn’t ensure environmental improvement and can cause problems. Thus we focus on guiding people to put the right tree in the right place and provide for its long-term care and protection.

As environmental problem solvers, trees are most effective when they are teamed with people. Hence, in addition to simply planting trees, TreePeople also educates thousands of people, activating them to participate in the care of their life support system--the urban forest.

ANDY LIPKIS

Beverly Hills

The writer is president of TreePeople.