Tree San Diego and its Role in Regional Sustainability

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1 Tree San Diego and its Role in Regional Sustainability Laurie Broedling President and Executive Director, Tree San Diego 2016 San Diego Green Building Conference and Expo September 16, 2016

2 Tree San Diego Who We Are Non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to urban forestry in the San Diego region Exists to help make the region s environment and its population healthier, safer, and more sustainable Region is primarily urban Part of informal network of similar organizations around state and country that play a major role in enhancing and sustaining urban forests

3 Tree San Diego Mission To significantly impact the quantity of quality urban forest in San Diego County and beyond. Quantity means increasing the percentage of urban forest. Quality means the right trees, in the right places, properly maintained. Key question: How do we optimize the benefits of trees? Requires a systems approach to the intelligent integration of trees into gray and other green infrastructure.

4 Call to Action Our region s tree canopy coverage is approximately 4 7%. Healthy coverage should be at least 25%. The solution is not more trees, it s more of the right trees, in the right places, for the right reasons, properly maintained and re-purposed when possible. There are many environmental, human, and economic benefits of trees in general. This panel focuses on how to compute and optimize the benefits of trees in the built environment.

5 LIFE CYCLE OF A RESILIENT URBAN FOREST Select & Plant Establish & Maintain Remove, Repurpose, & Plan Monitor Mature Trees

6 Tree San Diego s Strategy Perform and facilitate urban forestry activities planting the right trees in the right places; maintaining, monitoring, removing, and repurposing them Educate the citizenry, via a Tree Steward Program, in: the wide variety of benefits produced by a healthy, sustainable urban forest how to properly select, plant, maintain, remove, and re-purpose trees Collaborate with many partners, including municipalities and other government agencies, non-profit groups, schools, businesses, volunteer and citizen groups

7 Tree San Diego Capabilities Perform tree planting and care Provide expert guidance to other entities to support their tree planting and care Support re-purposing of dead tree material Hold public tree planting and care events to educate and engage the public Deliver classroom and field training in tree benefits, selection, planting, care, and monitoring Provide computational capabilities that quantify the benefits of particular trees.which is the focus of today s presentation

8 Tree San Diego Accomplishments Streets and schools Planting 1,200 trees and providing 3 years of initial tree care in underserved neighborhoods in the region. Includes partnering with SD-USGBC to plant trees at St. Rita s Catholic School during April s Green Apple Day of Service Parks and open spaces Planting of 75 trees in 4 parks; 81 trees in the Chollas Creek watershed; 25 trees in Rancho Santa Fe s Arroyo open space Community involvement and citizenry education in tree stewardship - A significant component of all projects Computational analysis Implemented for all projects

9 Tree (non) Trivia Q1 Which of the following can trees do for a building? A. Reduce A/C costs B. Increase the building s value C. Reduce effects of sun damage D. Reduce the need for expensive shades and window tinting E. All of the above and more

10 Tree Trivia Q2 Which of the following can trees do for outside property in a built environment? A. Reduce stormwater run-off B. Reduce erosion C. Reduce flooding D. Clean the air E. Remove greenhouse gas (CO2) from the air F. Reduce the heat island effect generated in parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks G. Reduce A/C for cars sitting in unshaded parking spaces H. Reduce the sun damage to parked cars, play equipment, etc. I. All of the above and more

11 Tree Trivia Q3 Which of the following can trees do for people? A. Improve mental health B. Reduce amount and degree of respiratory disease C. Reduce the excess heat produced by global warming D. Build sense of community in neighborhoods E. Provide shaded thoroughfares that encourage walking and biking vs driving F. Reduce the amount of pollution flowing into our bay and ocean G. Improve student test scores H. Increase property values I. Increase revenue in business districts with shaded streets J. All of the above and more

12 Tree Trivia Q4 How long must a new tree receive extra watering after it s been planted in this region? A. 6 months B. 1 year C. 2 years D. 3 years E. 4 years F. 5 years

13 Tree Trivia Q5 How much is the cost of water per year to keep a new tree adequately hydrated? A. $5 B. $10 C. $50 D. $75 E. $100

14 Tree Trivia Q6 What is California state policy with respect to watering trees during drought restrictions? A. Use the same watering guidelines given by your city or water district for all plants and trees. B. Cut back on your watering for trees first and, only when necessary, cut back on watering the rest of your landscape. C. Keep your trees watered no matter what; let all the rest of the landscape go without water if necessary.

15 Tree Trivia Q7 How much carbon (greenhouse gas) will a red flowering gum tree (Corymbia ficifolia) sequester over 40 years from the time it s planted as a 15-gallon tree? A metric tons B metric tons C metric tons D metric tons

16 Tree Trivia Q8 How many gallons of stormwater will a red flowering gum tree (Corymbia ficifolia) mitigate over 40 years from the time it s planted as a 15-gallon tree? A. 2,000 gallons B. 5,000 gallons C. 10,000 gallons D. 16,000 gallons

17 Tree Trivia Q9 How many native tree species are there west of the coastal range in the San Diego region? A. 22 B. 11 C. 5 D. 3 E. 0

18 Climate Action Plan and Climate Resiliency

19 Planning Department Ambitious new plan

20 Planning Department Greenhouse gas emissions projected and targets 15% % Goals

21 Planning Department 35%

22 Planning Department Why is this important?

23 Planning Department The Benefits of Trees Trees improve air and water quality Trees provide shade to the landscape and reduce water needs Trees help keep your home cooler Trees slow stormwater runoff and help recharge groundwater Trees reduce soil erosion Trees add value sometimes thousands of dollars worth to your home and neighborhood

24 Planning Department How?

25 Planning Department Elements of Urban Forest Management Preservation Emergency Response Risk Management Planning & Policy Maintenance Planting

26 Planning & Policy Preservation Maintenance Planting Risk Management Emergency Response Planning Department San Diego Urban Forest Management City of San Diego Urban Forest Management and Department Roles Park & Recreation X X X X X X Transportation & Storm Water X X X X X X Development Services X X X X Planning X Economic Development X X X X Public Works X X X X X

27 Planning Department Urban Forestry Program Challenges Planning Transportation & Storm Park & Recreation 1. Obtaining a definitive understanding of the current canopy cover and tree inventory. Urban Forestry Program Manager 2. Leveraging technology to unify the urban forestry program. Economic Development Development Services 3. Establish partnerships and citizen support. Public Works

28 Planning Department Planning Department Framework The General Plan Establishes Specific Urban Forestry Goals Climate Action Plan Identifies trees as a solution Establishes Canopy cover goals Community Plans & Updates Establish neighborhood specific goals Urban Greening Plans Opportunity to introduce new and innovative Urban Forest technologies & strategies CAL FIRE Grants 2014 Urban Forest Management Plan 2015 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Street Tree Inventory Plant 500 Street Trees

29 Planning Department Urban Forestry Program Mission To increase the urban tree canopy cover and enhance the urban environment through sound holistic urban forest management. Vision To grow a resilient world class urban forest for all San Diegans.

30 Planning Department Planning Department Urban Forestry Program Goals & Objectives 1. Increase our urban tree canopy cover to maximize the Benefits of Trees 2. Maximize the efficiencies in maintaining the benefits of trees 3. Minimize the risk of trees in an urban environment

31 Planning Department Increasing Canopy Cover

32 Planning Department Planning Department 2015 CAL FIRE Grant Urban Canopy Assessment Light Detection And Ranging County LiDAR Data Contracting with the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Laboratory

33 Planning Department Planning Department Urban Canopy Assessment 2D Imagery 2D LiDAR Height Above Ground

34 Planning Department Planning Department Urban Canopy Assessment Storm water planning Climate action planning Regional planning and habitat conservation plans Public Health Initiatives

35 Planning Department What You Can Do To Help Increasing Canopy Cover

36 Planning Department Planning Department Preserve Existing Trees

37 Plant Trees Planning Department Planning Department

38 Planning Department Planning Department

39 Planning Department How We Can Increase Our Urban Tree Canopy Cover Preserve Maintain Plant

40 Planning Department Elected Public Officials Citizens Businesses Engineers & Contractors Planners Landscape Architects Ecologists Foresters, Horticulturists & Arborists Research Sceintists

41 Planning Department Planning Department Community Forestry Advisory Board Vision create mechanisms for establishing, advocating and stewarding, in perpetuity, a healthy urban forest and thereby a healthy, attractive and prosperous city Board Members Chair Anne Fege Dist. 1 Vacant Dist. 2 Vacant Dist. 3 Chris Drayer Dist. 4 Stephen Lamprides Dist. 5 Rachele Melious Dist. 6 Vacant Dist. 7 Vince Mikulanis Dist. 8 Davin Widgerow Dist. 9 Troy Murphee Landscape Architect Devon Boutte Certified Arborist Robin Rivet Horticulturist/Nursery Vacant Non-Profit Jake Sibley Artist - Vacant

42 Thank You Jeremy Barrick Urban Forestry Program Manager Planning Department (619)

43 Benefits of trees Environmental Public health & Economic Aesthetic social People enjoy many benefits from the healthy plants found in their communities let s quantify them! Presented by Tim Lacey, Tree San Diego, tlacey@treesandiego.org

44 Quantifying Benefits of trees 18 trees x $ 57,797 each = $1,040,000 (assuming 100% survival or replacement illustrative values based on Bellevue, Wisconsin) 2012 Data from Bellevue, Wisconsin

45 Quantifying Benefits Burbank School Project Planted February, Trees total 5 Species total Street Trees Funded by CALFIRE Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds

46 Project Tracking and Analysis We record our trees and quantify their benefits Our Tree Tracker tool captures planting events Our Tree Tracker tool offers quick glance benefits Tree Carbon Calculator tools from U.S. Forest Service Stormwater mitigation tools in the itree suite of tools from U.S. Forest Service On demand analysis of property value impact, urban heat island impact Result: Quantified benefits of tree planting projects.

47 The Tree Tracker We track tree projects with the Tracker The San Diego Tree Tracker is designed for tracking planting efforts, community involvement, contractor reference. Open source project shared with key organizations throughout the country, including Friends of the Urban Forest (San Francisco), and Tree People LA. We use an app called OpenTreeMap available on both Apple and Android devices. Tree events are recorded upon planting and servicing. Tree Tracker provides 1 year climate data automatically, and exports to other tools for detailed analysis.

48 Capturing a planting with Tree Tracker People enter tree plantings with our Tree Tracker App NEW PLANTINGS: Geospatial coordinates The app lets you choose the exact spot on the map for the tree. Tree species Select the type of tree from a list Tree size (diameter or circumference) Notation for measurement method Indicate the method you used to measure.

49 Additional Tree Tracker Benefits Additional Tree Tracker benefits: Stewardship We can monitor when trees are pruned, watered, replaced, etc. for project management Project Tracking System had advanced search capabilities for projects, dates planted, geographic areas, and more. Visual Tracking We keep pictures! a) Showing reference pole b) Including the tree height c) Showing full planting environment

50 Using the Tree Tracker We have all the trees in the map, so now what? Listing the trees Export Search Results produces a tree list Project Reporting Generate quick URLs and tree map images. Partner billing Tree data can be reconciled with project accounting. Calculate benefits Greenhouse Gases, energy savings, stormwater, air pollution, property values

51 Overview of Calculations CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator (CTCC) ( This Carbon Calculator provides quantitative data on carbon dioxide sequestration and building heating/cooling energy effects provided by individual trees. itree Suite of Tools (itreetools.org) or Tree Tracker (sandiegotreetracker.org) Calculate Stormwater Mitigation Quick 1 year value available in Tree Tracker Calculate cumulative Stormwater mitigated and filtered Measure Air Pollution Absorption and Mitigation Property Value Impact Estimation

52 The CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator CUFR Calculator provides 40 year lifetime benefit Data from inventory: DBH, species, azimuth, proximity Data from environment: climate region, structure details, equipment details Calculate Air Quality benefits Carbon Sequestration Heating and Cooling benefit as CO 2 or kwh Carbon emissions from planting and maintenance as an offset

53 Tree Carbon Calculator Results Sample Data for 18 trees 40-year or annual Carbon Sequestration Heating and Cooling benefit as CO 2 or kwh Planting emissions included for accurate net benefit Key Numbers: 112 metric tons of CO 2 sequestered 20,803 kwh of energy saved $7,090 in combined economic benefit 24 average car-years removed from roads (4.7mt per average car/year) Species Azimuth Qty 40-year CO2 Sequestered (metric 40-year Energy tons) Savings (kwh) Redflowering Gum E New Zealand Christmas Tree E Chinese Pistache W Raywood Ash W Brisbane Box W Vehicle Emissions, 135 miles logged: TOTALS: Value: $ 3, $ 3, metric tons

54 Using the i-tree Tools: Stormwater County of San Diego Watershed Protection Ordinance (February 2016) New rules for managing stormwater Quantified water management Trees can significantly contribute to stormwater management Intercept Rain with leaves, branches, bark Increase infiltration and storage by the tree s root system Reduce soil erosion by intercepting and slowing rainfall before it strikes the soil

55 Using the i-tree Tools: Air Pollution Trees can significantly mitigate air pollution effects Absorb pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide Intercepting particulates like dirt, soot, and smoke Photosynthesis Lowering Air Temperatures Energy Benefits, leading to lowered production of pollutants Sample New Zealand Christmas Tree over 40 years - $120 benefit Air Pollutant Reduction (New Zealand Christmas Tree)

56 Using the i-tree Tool Suite Calculate Stormwater Savings Calculate Stormwater runoff eliminated/filtered through local absorption Current Year and cumulative benefits Air Pollutant Filtering Carbon Benefit Estimates (itree Design) Insert screen clip here Estimated Tree Benefits using itree Design Corymbia Ficifilia (Redflower Gum)

57 Using the i-tree Tools: Stormwater Quantifying Stormwater Benefits: itree Streets (PC Application), Project Level analysis itree Design (web based tool) Species Qty Stormwater Mitigated over 40 years (gallons) Air Pollution Benefit Value over 40 years (dollars) Redflowering Gum 2 31,844 $ 104 New Zealand Christmas Tree 5 185,255 $ 1,315 Chinese Pistache 4 69,680 $ 200 Raywood Ash 3 52,110 $ 150 Brisbane Box 4 50,288 $ 192 TOTALS: 389,177 $ 1,961

58 Quantifying Carbon/HVAC Savings Convert to Dollars Carbon numbers are great, gallons of water are great, but we can put a value on everything. Conversion rates (San Diego shown) vary based on region, dates, and can be customized.

59 Real Estate Property Value Estimating

60 Real Estate Property Value Estimating Trees Enhance Property Values (from Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property s value. USDA Forest Service Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save percent in energy used for heating. USDA Forest Service A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000. Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a strong or moderate impact on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%. Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests Calculators can provide estimates of annual property value increases (simple calculator at or via

61 Burbank Elementary Benefit Summary Economic Benefits Summary 22% 4% 1% 2% 71% Property Value Increases, $68,000 Air Pollution Mitigated, $2,000 Stormwater Mitigated and Filtered, $711 Carbon Sequestered, $3,700 Energy Savings, $20,800 Carbon numbers are great, gallons of water are great, but let s talk money! Conversion rates (San Diego shown) vary based on region, dates, and can be customized. Often, money is not the only issue public perception, environmental goodwill, aesthetics, or regulatory compliance may be key factors

62 Sample Strategic Tree Usage Marin County School Project 20 Trees planted Wind and Sun Blocking Educational Project

63 Tree San Diego s Computational Capabilities Tree San Diego uses its computational capabilities to quantify benefits to plan, propose, and execute projects to fulfill our mission. Our mission: The right trees in the right places, properly maintained! Access to the Tree Tracker tool for project management and communication Support or full service computational environmental benefit analysis using current tools and accepted methods. Carbon Sequestered Energy (HVAC) benefits for existing or new structures Stormwater mitigation Air Pollution Mitigation Property Value Enhancement Access and liaison to experts (LIDAR, Heat Island, Property Value Analysis) Partnering on the larger mission to enhance the Urban Forest of San Diego County.

64 Thank you! us with questions or for a copy of today s handouts: Laurie Broedling, lbroedling@treesandiego.org Jeremy Barrick, jbarrick@sandiego.gov Tim Lacey, tlacey@treesandiego.org Funding for development of these techniques has been provided to Tree San Diego and its partners by the California Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Urban and Community Forestry Program.