The trees died first.  One hundred million of them in the eastern and midwestern United States.  Then came the humans.  Jason Kane reports how the emerald ash borer has led to the deaths of over 21,000 Americans since the infestation began.  Click here for more.

The objectives and authority of the Tree Committee are detailed in Ordinance 1104, officially titled the Harpers Ferry Tree Conservation Ordinance. The Committee is responsible for the enforcement of the Ordinance, the provisions of which are enacted to:

• Establish a responsible authority for the management of the Corporation’s urban forest;
• Establish and maintain the optimal amount of tree cover on public property in the Corporation;
• Maintain the Corporation’s trees in a healthy and non-hazardous condition through good arboricultural practices; and
• Establish and maintain diversity in appropriate tree species and age classes to provide a stable and sustainable urban forest.

The Harpers Ferry Tree Committee officially consists of eight members:  five voting members, appointed by the Town Council; the Town's Maintenance Supervisor; one representative from the West Virginia Division of Forestry; and one representative from Potomac Edison (successor to the former Allegheny Power).  Of the five voting members, one must also be a member of the Planning Commission.  In addition, the Mayor of the Corporation of Harpers Ferry is considered an agent of the Committee.

Meetings of the Tree Committee are held the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Room at Harpers Ferry Town Hall.