Creating Succession Plans for Urban Forestry

Transcription

1 Creating Succession Plans for Urban Forestry Western Tree Management Symposium Trees & Climate Los Angeles County Arboretum January 14, 2010 Walt Warriner Community Forester City of Santa Monica, California

2 What is Succession Planning? Consistent control and development of the urban forest. Development of policies and procedures for the urban forest to improve its operations and increase its value. Transition of successive urban forest managers Identification and development of potential species for key placement in an urban forest A continual process of replacement planting that grades individual species on the basis of past performance. Evaluating species for a use in locations where they will serve the best purpose.

3 Reasons for a Succession Plan The perspective of decades & generations Useful life span of trees Strategy for replacements

4 Reasons for a Succession Plan

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9 Reasons for a Succession Plan The perspective of decades & generations Useful life span of trees Create long term strategy for funding Future threats Development New ordinances Insects & diseases

10 25 top species in southern California Lompoc San Diego* 1. Crape Myrtle 2. Mexican Fan Palm 3. Liquidambar 4. Canary Island Pine 5. Magnolia 6. London Plane 7. Queen Palm 8. Carrotwood 9. Jacaranda 10. Chinese Elm 11. Tristania 12. Camphor 13. Sycamore 14. California Pepper 15. Holly Oak 16. Live Oak 17. Ficus 18. Brazilian Pepper 19. Bradford Pear 20. Aleppo Pine 21. Red Iron Bark 22. Eucalyptus spp. 23. Evergreen Pear 24. Lemon Scented Gum 25. Red Gum Data courtesy of West Coast Arborists

11 25 top species in southern California Lompoc San Diego* 1. Crape Myrtle 2. Mexican Fan Palm 3. Liquidambar 4. Canary Island Pine 5. Magnolia 6. London Plane 7. Queen Palm 8. Carrotwood 9. Jacaranda 10. Chinese Elm 11. Tristania 12. Camphor 13. Sycamore 14. California Pepper 15. Holly Oak 16. Live Oak 17. Ficus 18. Brazilian Pepper 19. Bradford Pear 20. Aleppo Pine 21. Red Iron Bark 22. Eucalyptus spp. 23. Evergreen Pear 24. Lemon Scented Gum 25. Red Gum Data courtesy of West Coast Arborists

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13 Envisioning a Succession Plan Sharing your vision Develop a core that shares the vision Improve policies & procedures Urban Forestry Public Works Planning The Public

14 Envisioning a Succession Plan Sharing your vision Develop a core that shares the vision Improve policies & procedures Change the perspective on trees Assert proper forest management Show that trees have equal priority Trees as part of the infrastructure

15 Objectives of a Succession Plan Define the urban forest in an Agency s hierarchy Declaration of its value

16 Objectives of a Succession Plan Define the urban forest in an Agency s hierarchy Declaration of its value Quantify the environmental benefits of the forest Revise and update policies and procedures Define Best Management Practices Delegate responsibility to individual departments Perpetuate the urban forest Designate replacement species Establish an uneven aged stand of trees Increase diversity in the forest with new species

17 Objectives of a Succession Plan Identify policy applications for different departments Planning Public Works & Utilities Risk Management Upper Management Match policies with responsible positions Planners Architects & Engineers Street Maintenance Supervisors & Utility Managers Decision makers Community Leaders Boards & Commissions City Council

18 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Landscape Architect Peers Urban Forester Tree Board Internal Staff Community Stakeholder

19 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Tree Inventory How many trees do you have? How old is your forest? What is the remaining life span of your trees? What species do you have? What are the threats to those species? What are the environmental benefits of the forest?

20 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Tree Inventory Data analysis Community meetings

21 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Urban Forest Design Cool Designs vs. Practical Applications

22 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Urban Forest Design Cool Designs vs. Practical Applications Way finding trees

23 Process for Developing a Succession Plan Urban Forest Design Cool Designs vs. Practical Applications Way finding trees Neighborhood designs Single species Diversity in neighborhoods Part of the infrastructure

24 Components of a Succession Plan Executive Summary First thing to be seen Keep to less than 10% of the entire document Summarize key points of the document Make accurate recommendations

25 Components of a Succession Plan Executive Summary Vision / Mission Statement Inspiring & energizing Encompass the value the community places on its trees Declares the expected outcome of the program Keep it short and to the point

26 Components of a Succession Plan Executive Summary Vision / Mission Statement Description of the urban forest Number of trees Top 10 species Expected life spans Number of trees in the wrong location Planting requirements

27 Components of a Succession Plan Executive Summary Vision / Mission Statement Description of the urban forest Strategic Plan for the design of the urban forest What needs to be done? Who will do what? When will it get done? How will it get it done?

28 Components of a Succession Plan Executive Summary Vision / Mission Statement Description of the urban forest Urban forest design Strategic Plan Appendix

29 Summary Think beyond your experience Plan beyond your tenure Share your vision Develop your core group Integrate the forest into the infrastructure Assert proper urban forest management policies Assign responsibility Bring about change

30 Final Message The Municipal Arborist has a responsibility to care for the public s trees so that the next generation can inherit from us safe and healthy urban forests.