Doubling Baltimore’s tree canopy one tree at a time

TreeBaltimore A program of Baltimore City to double the tree canopy of Baltimore by developing a Sustainable urban forest Through the efforts of the entire civic community.

Background 1983 Chesapeake Bay Agreement 2003 Chesapeake Bay Directive Urban tree canopy extends the function of riparian forest buffers in developed areas By 2010, CBP will work with communities in each State to Promote tree canopy goals.

Baltimore Leads the Way The first city in Maryland to set an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Spring, 2006 Leakin Park

Tree Canopy Goal To double the Tree Canopy in Baltimore within 30 years. Cylburn Arboretum Shawn Beelman

Mid-Atlantic Chapter "It's a very aggressive goal, but one that is necessary for the future health of our city.” Connie A. Brown, Director Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks The Gold Leaf Award 2006 The Gold Leaf Award 2006

TreeBaltimore, Phase I: Urban Forest Management Plan Timeframe: -Began research June, Draft plan April 27, National Arbor Day -Final plan, June 30, Adopted by Planning Commission, Implementation: On-going -Inventory sampling, Summer, 2007

Urban Forest Management Plan “This is not just for now, it’s for the future. Think about the generations of people who will benefit.” Mayor Sheila Dixon

What is the Trend? Baltimore City is Losing Tree Canopy! What is the Trend? Average lifespan of tree: 15 years Only 30% of trees live past age 15 Loss in stored carbon at a value of $340 Million in 30 years Baltimore’s Urban Forest David J. Nowak, USDA Forest Service

A Sustainable Urban Forest The naturally occurring and planted trees in cities, managed to provide the residents with a continuing level of economic, social, environmental, and ecological benefits now, and into the future.

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Managing public lands with best practices; Tree-friendly urban infrastructure Suitable tree species; Protecting existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

Establish an inter-agency working group to implement the Urban Forest Management Plan. Policy: Interagency Cooperation Urban Forest Management Plan

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Managing public lands with best practices; Tree-friendly urban infrastructure Suitable tree species; Protecting existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

POLICY: MANAGE PUBLIC TREES AND FORESTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY TreeBaltimore Urban Forest Management Plan Policy: Manage public trees and forests by best practices for sustainability 5-year plan for street tree management operations according to best practices of the American National Standards A300 Street Tree Inventory Management Plan for park forests and trees

Interagency cooperation; Managing public lands with best practices; Tree-friendly urban infrastructure Suitable tree species; Protecting existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity Recommendations

TreeBaltimore Urban Forest Management Plan Policy: Build tree-friendly urban infrastructure Building standards for public and private projects -Baltimore City Book of Standards -Landscape manual Criteria for creating planting opportunities

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Managing public lands with best practices; Tree-friendly urban infrastructure Suitable tree species; Protecting existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

Recommendations Policy: Plant Suitable tree species; -Revise recommended tree list -Prohibit exotic invasive species -Insure species are adaptable to growing conditions

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Managing public lands with best practices; Tree-friendly urban infrastructure Suitable tree species; Provide an integrated regulatory framework Protecting existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

Recommendations Policy: Integrated regulatory framework -Revise Article 7 for Comprehensive Urban Forest Management objectives -Integrate: Forest Conservation Act Landscape Manual “Tree Ordinance” Tree protection -Increase enforcement resources

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Manage public lands with best practices; Build tree-friendly urban infrastructure Plant suitable tree species; Integrate regulatory framework Protect existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

TreeBaltimore Urban Forest Management Plan Policy: Protect existing trees from construction practices -Best practices for sidewalk repair around mature trees -Implement tree protection on all public and private development projects.

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Manage public lands with best practices; Build tree-friendly urban infrastructure Plant suitable tree species; Integrate regulatory framework Protect existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Building capacity

Recommendations Policy: Increase tree planting on private property. - Small tree give-away -Mid-size tree 50/50 grant program -Market-based incentive program

Recommendations Interagency cooperation; Manage public lands with best practices; Build tree-friendly urban infrastructure Plant suitable tree species; Integrate regulatory framework Protect existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands; Build capacity

Policy: Build capacity for tree planting and care -Education -Promotion -Partnering with public and private organizations and sponsors -Civic task force to develop financial and organizational capacityRecommendations

For us, for our children …

TreeBaltimore Amur Cork Baltimore City Notable Tree

Providing Professional Quality Service to Baltimore Since 1913 Brought to you by: Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks’ Forestry Division Doubling Baltimore’s tree canopy one tree at a time

- Question and Answer - Prioritize your concerns - What’s missing? - Tree Incentive Programs - Tree Sampling Survey

Interagency cooperation Manage public lands with best practices Build tree-friendly urban infrastructure Plant suitable tree species Integrate regulatory framework Protect existing trees Increase tree planting on private lands Building capacity Instructions: 1. Please rank each area: ‘1’ Most Important, ‘2’ Moderate Importance, or ‘3’ Least Importance 2. On the back of this paper, write any comment that you want about TreeBaltimore and the Urban Forest Management Plan. TreeBaltimore

TreeBaltimore Comments on the Urban Forest Management Plan, or other. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ _____________________________ Name (optional)__________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________

TreeBaltimore Incentive Programs Biannual Tree giveaway Target audience, opportunities and barriers Species Distribution method Growing Home Coupon Model Target audience, opportunities and barriers 50/50 grant program with community organizations Opportunities and barriers

Public Meeting Notice Saturday, June 2, 10:00 am -12:00 noon Fred B. Leidig Recreation Center 4521 Frederick Avenue Download the plan at: Comments due:June 4, 2007 First 30 people at each meeting will receive a free Red Maple!

TreeBaltimore Join the Street Tree Sampling Survey Summer, 2007 Volunteers Needed!

Thanks for Coming!