The Texas Forestry Association is giving away 5,000 hardwood seedlings near the south steps of the Capitol this morning. The association will begin handing out the trees at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until 11:30 a.m. or until the supply runs out.
The seedling giveaway is a biennial tradition. The TFA began their seedling giveaway during the 72nd legislative session to raise public awareness of the tree planting efforts that take place across the state.
The TFA says each winter, in forested regions like East Texas, 100 million seedlings are planted in hopes that one day those trees will mean money for the Texas economy and the timber industry. Texas Forestry Association Vice President Ron Hufford says commercial forest lands are valuable to the agricultural sector because they generate jobs and create thousands of products.
Everyone is invited to pick up a free seedling.
