1. Urban & Community Forestry
2015 Current Issue
Pennsylvania Envirothon

2. Introduction
The value of trees in our community is often overlooked but trees make human habitats more livable.
Often we go about our days, and don’t stop to think about how trees soften the many harsh aspects of our built environment.

3. Key Topics:
What is sustainable urban/community forestry and why is it important?
What are the benefits of urban/community forests to society?
What are the costs associated with urban/community forestry?
What is an urban forest plan and why is it an essential tool?

4. Urban Forestry…
Refers to all publicly and privately owned trees within an urban area, including:
Trees along streets
Trees in backyards
Urban parks
Landscaped boulevards
Public gardens
Greenways
Nature preserves

5. Urban/Community Forestry is…
the management of trees for their contribution to the physiological, sociological, and economic well being of the urban society.
the art, science, and technology of managing trees, forests, and natural systems in and around cities, suburbs, and towns for the health and well-being of all people.

6. Urban/Community Forestry…
Involves: selection, planting, maintenance of all trees and landscapes in an urbanized area.
Is a well planned, coordinated program
Involves a partnership among federal and state governmental agencies, private sector companies, organizations, and the public.

7. Benefits of Urban and Community Forests

8. Economic Benefits Attracts businesses and tourists
Higher occupancy rates
Higher property values
Lower crime rates
Good investment for their return

9. Economic Benefits Saves energy Cooling in hotter months
Can reduce air conditioning by 30%
Wind barrier during winter
Can reduce heating by 20 to 50%

10. Environmental Benefits
Sustains long-term environmental
Moderates the effects of harsh weather
Improves air quality
Reduces noise pollution
Improves water quality
Reduces runoff and erosion
Filters stormwater and reduces flooding
Reduces wind erosion of soil
Provides habitat for birds and wildlife

11. Community Benefits Safeguard pedestrians from traffic
Provides screening and privacy
Reduces noise pollution
Reduces glare on sunny days

12. Aesthetic Benefits Trees add beauty and peace
Trees contribute positively to our quality of life
Trees can serve as a source of community pride

13. Health Benefits Creates feelings of relaxation and well-being
Provides privacy and sense of solitude and security
Creates recreational areas for walkers, runners, cyclists, and more
Improves attention
Improves physical and mental health
Decreases asthma and obesity

14. Improvements in Air Quality
Absorbs and reduces airborne pollutants
Stores millions of tons of carbon
Lower air temperatures - “cooling effect” of trees – in turn reduces carbon emissions from building energy use and other sources

15. Improvements in Water Quality
Reduces rate and volume of storm-water runoff
Absorbs some of the nutrients in the soil
Helps prevent raw sewage spillover
Trees, vegetation, and wetlands can help prevent flooding of sewage treatment facilities.
Limits soil erosion by helping control storm-water flow.

16. Threats to Urban/Community Forests
Insects and diseases, (i.e., gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, fungi that cause Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight,)
Wildfire/fire
Natural catastrophic events
Invasive species
Development
Climate change

17. Why should my community do a tree inventory?
To determine the need for a community program
To prioritize maintenance schedules
To educate the public and residents and promote the program
To facilitate the planning
To provide the basis for the development of a comprehensive management plan

18. Why should my community have a management plan?
Increased Public Safety
Increased Efficiency
Facilitate Short- And Long-Term Planning
Justify Budgets
Documentation

19. Management Plan Components
Tree Inventories
Tree Inventory and Mapping Data Management Software
Tree Risk Reduction Plan/Emergency Storm Response
Tree Board or Advisory Council Development
Public Relations and Education
Urban Forest Cost/Benefit Analysis

20. What is a Tree Inventory?
Statistically reliable survey of publicly owned and managed trees, used to determine:
Location and the exact or estimated measurements of:
Quantity and Quality
Health and trends of the urban forest
Description of other urban forest attributes:
Potential planting sites,
Utilities present
Hardscape features

21. Tree Inventories Types Windshield Surveys
Statistical Sample Inventories
Partial Inventories
Complete Inventories
Using and Managing the Inventory Data
Inventory Data Analysis
Population Characteristics
Maintenance and Planting Programs
Insect and Disease Threats and Control
Budgets

22. Tree Risk Reduction Plan/ Emergency Storm Response Plan
Risk Reduction plans include:
Clearing leaves and woody debris from gutters and storm drains
Sidewalk, street, and building clearance standards
Line-of-sight conflicts for street and safety signage
Blockage of street lamps and traffic lights
Conflicts with overhead and underground utilities

23. Tree Risk Reduction Plan/ Emergency Storm Response Plan
Collecting and disposing of debris produced by catastrophic disasters, such as tornadoes, ice storms, hurricanes, and severe winds
Managing increased:
Threats to life from hanging limbs and uprooted trees
Hindrance to life-saving efforts by blocked streets and driveways
Power outages and power restoration efforts
Personal and public property damage

24. Tree Board or Advisory Council Development
Can provide a number of services, including:
Educate the citizens at large
Interact with elected officials
Assist with maintenance tasks (small tree maintenance, mulching, planting, watering)
Generate private financial donations and apply for grants
They serve in an advisory capacity only

25. Public Relations and Education
Have a computerized tree inventory and urban forest management plan accessible by the public – print hardcopy or on a website
Other actions may include:
Public meetings and/or seminars
Monthly tree-related articles for the newspaper
Letters to residents announcing tree maintenance or planting projects

26. Urban Forest Cost/Benefit Analysis
Trees growing in any community are valuable municipal resources.
They provide tangible and intangible benefits for diverse services such as: Pollution control, Energy reduction, Storm water management, Property values, Wildlife habitat, Education, Aesthetics.
Benefits once considered unquantifiable, now can be calculated using models contained in i-Tree software and current tree inventory information.

27. Urban Forest Cost/Benefit Analysis
Benefits to the public works manager:
Obtaining economic evaluations for street trees to assess management program
Justification for funding and performing strategic planning
Gaining more public support
Determining the annual amount of pollution removed by the urban forest, the amount of carbon sequestered, the amount of energy consumption reductions, and estimated increases in property values and aesthetics

28. Models and Tools
i-Tree – Suite of software tools to help users identify and manage the structure, function, and value of urban tree populations.
Leafsnap
Forest Service Web sites - U.S. Forest Service, State forestry agencies, etc.
Arbor Day Foundation
Tree City U.S.A.

29. Thank you for your learning about Urban and Community Forestry!