A sapling of the World Trade Center’s survivor tree planted in Fort Wayne, Indiana has been deemed potentially harmful to the local environment. The sapling was taken from a Callery pear tree that survived the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and was planted at the Law Enforcement Firefighter Memorial of Allen County last September.
Celia Garza, Chair of Northeast Indiana Sierra Club Group, says that the Callery pear, not being native to Indiana, can spread much faster than native trees and could crowd them out. The tree also does not produce deep roots, so it does not filter water effectively.
Officials told Louie Tran of WPTA21 that they respect the intentions behind the tree and do not want it taken away; but suggest it could be moved indoors or treated to prevent its spreading.
