Urban Forestry Workshop
By:
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Acknowledgements:
MTAS is proud to acknowledge the support and
partial funding of this project by the USDA
Forest Service and the Tennessee Department
of Agriculture, Division of Forestry.
Our special thanks goes to the Tennessee Urban
Forestry Council, and to the Staff Urban Forester,
Assistant Urban Forester, and Regional Urban
Foresters for their continued technical assistance
and support.
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Pre-Test
 Do not put your name on the test.
 This is not testing you personally, it is testing
the training.
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Introductions:
 Who are you?
 What city do you represent?
 Why are you here?
 What do you hope to learn from this class?
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Learning Points:
 Definition/benefits of urban forestry
 Elements of an urban forestry program
 Roles of tree board members and staff
 Best management practices in urban forestry
technical assistance providers
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Urban Forestry is…
 the management of trees for their contribution
to the physiological, sociological, and
economic well being of the urban society.
 is 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.
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Urban 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.
 Examples: TUFC, Arbor Day, ISA, Public Work,
Keep America Beautiful and Scenic Tennessee.
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Our definition is that and more:
 Is a quality of life issue
 Provides economic benefits to community
 Is an important part of the city’s infrastructure
 Must be a balance between progress and
preservation of nature
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What are the Benefits of having an
Urban Forestry Program???
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Benefits - Environment
 Improves air quality
 Reduces noise pollution
 Improves water quality
 Stormwater retention
 Reduces wind erosion of soil
 Creates wildlife diversity
 Keeps insects in check
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Benefits - Economy
 Creates a favorable impression
 Attracts businesses and tourists
 People tend to linger and shop along tree-
lined streets
 Employee morale is affected by wooded
developments
 Higher occupancy values
 Higher property rates
 Lower crime rates
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Benefits – Economy
 Higher and longer occupancy rates in
wooded developments
 Higher property value
 Reduces Heat Island Effect
 Governor’s 3-star Program
 Industrial/job recruitment
 Tourism
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Benefits – Energy
 Saves energy
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Cooling in hotter months
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Can reduce air conditioning by 30%
Wind barrier during winter
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Can reduce heating by 20 to 50%
 Reduces glare on sunny days
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Benefits - Health
 Creates feelings of relaxation and well-being.
 Provides privacy and sense of solitude and
security.
 Shortens post-operative hospital stays when
patient have a view of trees and open
spaces.
 Neighborhoods with trees have less
childhood obesity than those without trees.
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Major Elements:
 Select a Program or Standards
 Establish a Tree Board
 Adopt a Tree Ordinance
 Develop a Program Budget
 Staff the Program
 Develop a Management Plan
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Select a Program or Standards:
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National Arbor Day Foundation –USA Tree City
Program Standards
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Apply to Dept. of Ag., Div. of Forestry, Urban
Forestry Staff
Tree Board or Department
Tree Care Ordinance
Annual Budget of at least $2 per capita
Arbor Day Observation
National Allocation Method
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Tree Ordinance
Tree Board
Staffing
Inventory/Management Plan
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Tree City USA -- Establish a Tree Board
 Responsible for the care and management of
the community’s trees.
 A group of concerned volunteer citizens
 Could include professional and volunteer
members
 Balanced broad based community
involvement
 Directed by ordinance
 Administers tree management plan
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Tree City USA --Tree Board Ordinance
 Statement of creation/establishment
 Number of members
 Qualifications of members
 Term of office
 Provisions for vacancies
 Compensation (if any)
 Board duties and responsibilities
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Tree City USA -- Adopt a Tree Ordinance
 Addresses three key components:
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Tree protection
Street tree requirements
 Could draft your own ordinance, or
 Use MTAS model tree ordinance
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Tree City USA --Develop Program Budget
 Annual budget of $2 per capita
 May need to re-examine the community’s
budget priorities
 Need to know how much money is already
being spent on trees (planting &
maintenance, park maintenance, public
works)
 Focus funding on an annual work plan
developed after an inventory is completed
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Staff the Program
 Varies from city to city
 Cross train public works employees
 Volunteers and/or Professionals
 Arborists
 Options: in-house city crews, outside
contracts, volunteer or contractual labor, or
combination of any of these.
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Develop a Management Plan
 Three Tier Model
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Tree Inventory
Assessment
Urban Forestry Management Plan
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Strategic Plan
Management Plan
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Software Demonstration
 i-Tree – Suite of software tools to help users
identify and manage the structure, function,
and value of urban tree populations.
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Roles of Tree Board and Staff
 Defined by City’s charter or ordinance
 Could include any or all of the following:
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Policy formulation
Advising
Administration
Management
Representation
Advocacy
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Best Management Practices
 Chattanooga, Tennessee
 Walla Walla, Washington
 Palo Alto, California
 Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
 Seattle, Washington
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Chattanooga, TN – Market Street
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Market Street –
Downtown Chattanooga
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MLK Median in Chattanooga, TN
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Yoshino Cherry - Chattanooga
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Streetscape Project
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Columnar English Rose
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Technical Providers
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Need help???
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Instructors/Resources:
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Post-Test
 Do not put your name on the test.
 This is not testing you personally, it is testing
the training.
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Summary
 Definition/benefits of urban forestry
 Elements of an urban forestry program
 Roles of tree board members and staff
 Best management practices in urban forestry
technical assistance providers
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In Closing….
 Thank you for your time and participation in
this class!
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