The Forest For the Trees: The Value of Community Forest Master Planning. Lee Mueller

Transcription

1 The Forest For the Trees: The Value of Community Forest Master Planning Lee Mueller

2 Lee Mueller Forestry Specialist Project Developer Davey Resource Group, a Division of The Davey Tree Expert Company ISA Certified Arborist & MI Registered Forester B.S., Forestry, Michigan State University M.S., Forestry, Michigan State University

3 Management vs Master plans Management Plan Tree Population Public (Streets & (Data) Parks) People City Staff Goals Proactive Maintenance and risk management Creation Timeframe 4 6 weeks Implementation 5 10 years Timeframe Costs $ to $$ Master Plan Public and Private All Stakeholders Shared Vision and focused action 9 12 months years $$ to $$$$$

4 Master Plans Urban Forest Master Plan Urban Tree Plan Urban Forest Plan Strategic Tree Plan Urban Forest Management Plan Public Tree Plan Image Credit: planphilly.com Should words other than 'Master' be used to describe long-range plans? By Kellie Patrick Gates

5 Whatever We Call It Blueprint Roadmap Framework Image Credit: Amazon.com TomTom Navigation Unit Image Credit: Tobermory Press Inc.

6 So... why do you need one?

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10 We re asking more from our urban forests than ever before. There s significantly more threats and challenges we ve ever experienced. Yet, resources continue to shrink.

11 So Why Do You Need One? To proactively address growing environmental challenges To practice and model cooperation and efficiency To create clear goals and baseline metrics for the entire urban forest To foster long-term advocates and increase civic participation in the preservation of our urban forest To allocate limited resources effectively To create a coordinated vision

12 Adaptive Management What Do We Have? How Are We Doing? What Do We Want? How Do We Get There?

13 Adaptive Management What Do We Have? How Are We Doing? What Do We Want? How Do We Get There?

14 What do we have? Tool Measurement / Indicator Canopy Assessment Canopy coverage Canopy distribution Tree inventory (sample or full) Health or condition Species diversity Extent of public trees Maintenance needs Historic budget information Trends in resource allocation Volunteer hours Community support or interest Partnerships Community support or interest i-tree reports or analyses Ecosystem benefits Cost-benefit analysis Community leader involvement / interest Political support Citizen work requests or calls Community perception Work allocation Census data Equity

15 What Do We Have?

16 Top Ten Species Street Tree Population Species Park Tree Population Percentag e Species Percentag e Complete Urban Forest Species Percentag e Norway maple* 16% pin oak 11% black locust 13% red maple* 11% London planetree 6% Norway maple 12% callery pear 11% northern red oak 6% black cherry 10% littleleaf linden 11% Norway maple 5% white ash 9% London planetree 9% crabapple 4% American elm 8% honeylocust 5% ginkgo 4% Tree-of-heaven 5% sugar maple* 4% black locust 4% boxelder 5% pin oak 4% littleleaf linden 4% sugar maple 3% silver maple* 3% sugar maple 3% hackberry 2% sweetgum 3% Austrian pine 2% white mulberry 2% other 23% other 50% other 31%

17 What do we have?

18 What Do We Have?

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20 What do we have? Community Framework Resource Management Partnerships and collaboration. Policies and procedures. How is your cooperation with other City departments? Utilities? Do you have a tree inventory? Is it up to date? Is your community involved in urban forestry efforts? Do you have a canopy study? Are you using it? Is there a general awareness and appreciation of trees? Do you have a thorough, industry accepted approach to risk management? Are large landowners or institutions involved in urban forestry? Do you take environmental justice and equity into account? How? What is your funding situation?

21 State of the Urban Forest Cleveland, Ohio

22 Adaptive Management What Do We Have? How Are We Doing? What Do We Want? How Do We Get There?

23 What Do We Want? Steering Committee Member Organizations Tree Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission City Forester, City of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Department of City Planning, City of Pittsburgh Duquesne Light The Pennsylvania State University Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry Davey Resource Group Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) Pennsylvania Environmental Council Remaking Cities Institute, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group USDA Forest Service

24 What do we want? Steering Committee Public Meetings Survey Review/Comment

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27 Public Opinion 1,699 surveys completed 52% improve quality of life 10% lower energy bills 52% hardscape damage 2% trees cost too much More trees Better maintenance 64% more planting & protection 37% support 1% fee

28 Focus Groups

29 Create clear goals Goals are the ends toward which a program or problem solution is directed. Objectives are more detailed than goals and explain how goals will be accomplished. S - Specific, significant, and stretching M - Measurable, meaningful, and motivational A - Agreed-upon, attainable, and action-oriented R - Realistic, reasonable, relevant, and results-oriented. T - Time-based, tangible, and trackable.

30 Leff, Michael The Sustainable Urban Forest: A step-by-step approach. Davey Institute / USDA Forest Service, Philadelphia Field Station. 102 pps.

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32 Create clear goals Bad goals Good goals Improve tree care. An established, fully funded pro-active tree care program, including 5-year rotational pruning and regular inspection of all trees by Expand tree canopy. Achieve 35% tree canopy by 2030.

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34 Adaptive Management What Do We Have? How Are We Doing? What Do We Want? How Do We Get There?

35 How do we get there?

36 How do we get there?

37 How Do We Get There? Goal #1: A fundamental shift in thinking on the subject of urban tree infrastructure Goal #2: A reversal of the ongoing canopy loss trend Goal #3: A full stewardship for the public tree infrastructure

38 How Do We Get There? #1: Establish a Unified Voice, Formalize Partnerships #2: Develop an Outreach and Education Strategy #3: Develop Funding Plan #4: Obtain a Tree Inventory #5: Develop and Implement a Management Plan #6: Develop an Operational Review #7: Establish a Canopy Goal #8: Institute Policy Changes #9: Plant with a Purpose

39 Adaptive Management What Do We Have? How Are We Doing? What Do We Want? How Do We Get There?

40 Leff, Michael The Sustainable Urban Forest: A step-by-step approach. Davey Institute / USDA Forest Service, Philadelphia Field Station. 102 pps.

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45 It s the Journey, Not the Destination Thank you! lee.mueller@davey.com