Is it illegal to plant trees on public land?

[blackjack]

[patois]

If you don't own the land don't plant on it without permission. It's pretty simple really. That said, it is possible to get permission to plant on public lands that you acquire a land lease on. Other than that, you can propose projects that either are funded and approved by the legislature to plant on public lands like reforestation projects, or get permission through government authorities to do volunteer work with charity funding like planting trees to green a city. Whenever you are planting on public lands there are generally favored and prohibited species, because public lands are often conservation of native habitats. Thus what would naturally grow there is promoted and what would interfere with native flora like certain invasive are prohibited. Usually prohibited species are listed in the county codes.

[BetaBucks]

Typically, yes. Especially if what you are planting could be harmful to the local ecosystem. Like, if you go around planting Tree of Heaven all over your area, you deserve to be imprisoned.

You can always check with your local government. They might even give you suggestions on what is best/safest to plant for the area. At one point, my county was giving away saplings for people to plant. It was after a really bad fire and the pines and cedars were nearly wiped out.

[purplepoppy]

Public land is still owned and managed by someone such as the local council or some trust. Under the UK constitution this would be covered under common law, i. e derived from local customs. Therefore planting trees would change the use of the land hence be illegal.

If there's no trees on the land to start with, it's either because animals eat the saplings, someone comes along with a mower, or there's and issue with the land such as shallow soil or too windy.

[dustybiker2]

Yes. It doesn't hurt to ask. The tree might be diseased and damage local wild plants, the land management, city whatever would want to inspect the tree first. This is why they take bringing of plants across borders so seriously. Damaged plants can destroy ecosystems.
Aside that what if there it is a site planned for development in a few years? You'd want to plant it where it will be able to live a long time.

[ChicoFromThe305]

Who cares, no one will know, even if it was they have no one to charge, this is why guerilla growing is common among illegal growing of cannabis, people grow weed in public grounds and unless authorities catch you red handed with it, they will only have to dispose of it if they find it, it's the less riskiest way to grow weed where it's illegalized.

[KostasKouvalis]

As a natural resources guy who's worked at a state park, city park and wildlife refuge, the answer is YES! Even if it's a non-invasive plant, some agency still owns and maintains the land. Also, you have to know what the hell you're doing. You can't just pop a seed/plant in the ground in a random spot.

[NotIrysXO]

I feel like this is a no brainer, I know someone planting the tree would think “this will help the environment” but it is indeed illegal and if someone wants to plant a tree in a public space I’m sure you’d need not just approval but a license or contract etc followed by a lot of money to use that public space for the tree to grow.

[NaultD]

Yes. Follow the rule leave no trace. There's trained professionals that do land management and have plans to plant trees and need volunteers so definitely help them out.

[exitseven]

I imagine there are invasive species that you cannot. It probably varies by state.

[jahaims]

Especially if you introduce an invasive species or mess up the land management in some way. Just look up a group and volunteer to plant trees under the guidance of someone who knows what they are doing.

[Fireguy17]

Quite possibly, but I wouldn't think you would go to jail over it.
Depending on where they get planted they might just get mowed over.

[Dargil]

Don't lumber outfits harvesting Federal lands do that

[Snakeyes7]

If it is public then I'd say it is illegal because only public institutions can do things like that to their land.

[nawtee_me]

No, it is public land and you are part of the public….

[NathanDavis]

it's not ideal either...

[electromagnetic]

Depends on the local laws where you live.

[Agape93]

Depends. But usually yeah

[DrPepper12]

Technically yes but fuck laws

[SotiCoto]

Don't think so. Why would it be?

[Sasquach]

How could they prove you planted it?

[Jason2469]

Fuck the law. Amd fuck government

[MemeSupreme]

probably

[Fatoumamoud]

Yeah