Cost of Inaction

In Mount Gretna, the forest is more than a backdrop — it is a living system that shapes our environment, economy, and cultural identity. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The same is true for forest care: proactive stewardship is far less costly — ecologically, financially, and culturally — than repairing the damage after the fact.

Ecological Costs

• Biodiversity loss – Without active management, invasive plants and pests can outcompete native species, reducing habitat diversity and weakening ecosystem resilience.

• Stormwater problems – Declining canopy cover and degraded understory vegetation increase runoff, erosion, and sedimentation in local streams and lakes.

• Climate impacts – Loss of mature trees reduces carbon storage, raises local temperatures, and diminishes the forest’s ability to buffer against extreme weather.

Financial Costs

• Declining property values – A degraded forest environment can reduce the appeal and market value of homes.

• Infrastructure damage – Poor stormwater control can wash out roads, clog culverts, and damage public facilities.

• Increased insurance claims – Unhealthy or poorly maintained trees are more likely to fail during storms, leading to higher claims and potential premium increases.

Cultural & Aesthetic Costs

• Loss of shade – Canopy decline increases heat in homes, yards, and public spaces, reducing comfort in summer months.

• Loss of identity – Mount Gretna’s wooded character is central to its sense of place — without it, this community becomes just another neighborhood.

• Loss of historic landscape character – Mature forests are part of Mount Gretna’s heritage; their disappearance erases a living connection to the past.

The Choice Before Us

These outcomes are not inevitable. They are the predictable results of neglect — and just as predictably, they can be avoided through stewardship. Every action taken now, from planting a native tree to supporting community-level forest care, shifts the balance toward a healthier, more resilient future.