Tree Management Plans. & Your Community. The Morton Arboretum 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL mortonarb.org/community-trees

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1 & Yur Cmmunity The Mrtn Arbretum 4100 Illinis Rute 53, Lisle, IL mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees

2 Tls & Yur Cmmunity WHAT IS A TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN? Tree Tls A tree management plan utlines hw yur cmmunity will prtect and care fr ne f its greatest assets---its trees. Tree Ordinances [Type a qute frm the dcument r the summary f an interesting pint. Yu can psitin the text bx anywhere in the dcument. Use the Text Bx Tls tab t change Figure 1 the frmatting f the pull qute text bx.] imprves [Type a qute frm the dcument & with Yur age. r the summary Cmmunity f an interesting pint. Yu can psitin the text bx anywhere in the dcument. Use the Text Bx Tls tab t change the frmatting supprt f the functins. pull qute Example: text bx.] streams, trees, plants, sils, air Trees are an imprtant part f a cmmunity's green infrastructure, as essential as rads, bridges, r sewer mains. But trees, unlike ther types f infrastructure perfrm better and gain value ver time. They are the nly infrastructure that Green Infrastructure is the intercnnected netwrk f natural systems that prvide life infrastructure. Grey Infrastructure is the netwrk f manmade systems that transprt water, waste, chemicals, and pllutants---ften directing these materials t green Example: rads, sewers, water mains WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE A TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN? Trees are an asset t yur entire cmmunity. They imprve ur air, water, and sil thrugh their bilgical functins. Trees prvide aesthetic and mnetary value t ur cmmunities by increasing ur prperty values and imprving ur quality f life. A tree management plan, like a strmwater, street, r sewer management plan, prtects the imprtant infrastructure n which we depend. Bigger is better! What are sme f the benefits that trees prvide? 1, 8-inch-dbh (diameter at breast height) ak tree intercepts 511 gallns f strmwater each year. 1, 16-inch-dbh ak trees intercept 1,653 gallns f strmwater each year. Bigger trees prvide bigger benefits! Trees increase in size and value ver time. They are the nly infrastructure that imprves with age! Trees remve pllutin frm the air. Trees stre and sequester carbn. Trees reduce energy usage due t their ability t shield buildings frm sun and wind. Trees reduce ambient air temperature helping t ffset "heat island" effects. Trees intercept strmwater. Trees imprve ur health by helping t keep ur air and water clean. Trees imprve ur emtinal health. Trees imprve ur scial behavir. Trees prvide xygen. Trees imprve ur prperty values. Trees prvide habitat fr wildlife. 1

3 Tls & Yur Cmmunity HOW DO YOU GET STARTED? Start where yu are. Each cmmunity is unique and has different needs. Take a lk at where yu are in the care and management f yur trees and start there. What can yu accmplish with the resurces yu have? Be sure t have reasnable expectatins. Set gals. What is yur visin fr yur cmmunity? What wuld yu d if yu had mre resurces? Make a list f these gals. Keep these gals clse at hand while yu develp yur plan. Enlist tree supprters. Are there residents in yur cmmunity whm yu culd call upn t be yur tree advcates? Wuld they be willing t be trained fr the rle? These imprtant individuals can supprt yur effrts, advcate fr yur plan, vlunteer t help care fr trees, and extend yur budget! Engage prperty wners. In mst cmmunities, the majrity f trees are n private prperty. Yur management plan needs t address all trees in the cmmunity, nt just thse n public land. Make sure private prperty wners are invlved in the develpment f the plan s it has their supprt. Invlve the cmmunity. Be sure t include members f yur cmmunity and yur frestry staff in develping the plan s that it will be respnsive t lcal needs and have brad supprt. Start by creating an advisry cmmittee, including residents, prperty wners, and members f yur staff wh care fr trees, and ask cmmittee members and the public fr cmments and ideas. Surce: swc.ttu.edu CREATE A TREE BOARD OR COMMISSION Educated, caring members f the cmmunity can be pwerful advcates fr yur cmmunity frest and the resurces t care fr it. A tree management planning prcess is the perfect pprtunity t set up a permanent advisry grup tasked with making recmmendatins t the lcal gvernment n behalf f the care, prtectin, and planting f trees. Members shuld receive training t understand trees and tree care practices. Here are sme tasks yu may wish yur bard r cmmissin t be invlved in: Surce: arbrday.rg Develpment f a tree management plan Tree City USA applicatin and cmpliance Tree rdinance review and updates Frestry budget review and recmmendatins Tree prtectin recmmendatins Pririty prject recmmendatins Develping an invasive species watch and readiness plan Fundraising fr tree planting and special prjects Private prperty recmmendatins Cst-share r ther incentive prgrams fr residents 2

4 Tls & Yur Cmmunity WHAT cause KNOWLEDGE DO YOU NEED? Yur tree management plan needs t be based n facts and knwledge. T prepare: Assess yur trees. If yur cmmunity has dne a tree inventry, this infrmatin will be valuable in creating yur plan. Knwing what trees yu have, what cnditin they are in, their size, their species, and where they are lcated will help yu identify the needs and csts assciated with caring fr them. If yu d nt have a tree inventry, this is a gd time t take ne. Even if yu inventry nly a prtin f yur cmmunity each year, it will help make yur plan mre specific t yur needs. Identify prblems. Knw what invasive species, pests, and pathgens are in yur cmmunity frest r are n the way. Knw where yu have trees in decline which might require treatment, pruning, r remval. Establish a value fr the cmmunity frest. Numbers that shw cncrete values fr trees are helpful in building supprt. Once yu knw what trees yu have and hw trees cntribute t the health f the envirnment and a cmmunity's quality f life, yu will be able t calculate a selected value fr ne tree r all f yur trees. With the help f tls such as the itree r the Natinal Tree Benefit Calculatr, values can be displayed based n such factrs as the amunt f pllutin trees absrb t minimize air quality prblems, the amunt f water trees absrb t reduce the amunt f strmwater, and the amunt f energy they save by prviding shade and buffer fr buildings. EXAMPLE: Assume that 20 trees in a park are each 15 inches in diameter. Tgether, they have a cumulative diameter f 300 inches. If thse trees had t be remved, they wuld nt be replaced with 15-inch-diameter trees. Mst cmmunities install trees that are 2 t 2.5 inches in diameter. At 2.5 inches, it wuld take 120 trees t replace the 300 inches f trees. If thse trees cst $250 each, the replacement value f the 20 trees is $30,000. (This des nt include the lst value because bigger trees prvide bigger benefits!) 300"/2.5" = 120 trees x $250 each = $30,000 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN YOUR PLAN? Explain the benefits and functin f trees. Help yur readers see the value f trees as a cmmunity asset and understand hw trees functin s they can understand what needs t be in the plan. Prvide specific examples frm yur cmmunity t illustrate imprtant pints. Fr example: It is imprtant t prtect the rt systems f a tree frm cnstructin equipment. The majrity f the rts f a tree extends ut t the canpy and is lcated in the tp 10 t 12 inches f sil. Equipment driven ver these rts can damage r kill the tree. A few things t include in a plan: A tree inventry Qualificatins f staff Specificatins and standards fr care and planting References t rdinances which include trees: tree prtectin, strmwater, develpment, green infrastructure, etc. Cnnectin t cmprehensive plan Tree maintenance and planting schedules Cmmunity mapping---identifying pririty areas and gals Plans fr management f invasive species Shrt- and lng-term gals Vlunteer recruitment and training Disaster preparedness plan 3

5 Tls & Yur Cmmunity Crdinate with tree rdinances. Make sure yur plan agrees with yur cmmunity's tree rdinance, if yu have ne. If nt, this is a gd pprtunity t develp an rdinance r updated yur current plan. Prvide clear definitins. Many terms in yur tree management plan may nt be familiar t all readers. Be sure these terms are clearly defined s there is n cnfusin. They als may be defined in yur tree rdinance, s make sure the definitins agree. Here are sme examples f terms t define: Certified arbrist Cnservancy area r natural area Deciduus tree Diameter at breast height (dbh) Diversity Easement Evergreen/cniferus tree Frestry department Green infrastructure Hazard Invasive species Line f sight bstructin Native species parkway Permit Pruning Right-f-way Transplanting Tree remval Surce: The Mrtn Arbretum Establish a standard f care. This may include schedules fr regular risk assessments, pruning, and watering, as well as insecticide r fertilizer treatments fr certain species. It may als include specificatins fr prtectin frm cnstructin impacts, such as sidewalk replacements and rad imprvements. Base yur pruning and remval schedule n yur inventry assessment. Determine whether this wrk can be dne by existing staff r will require added persnnel r cntractrs, and the csts assciated with it. Yur cmmunity's tree care standards fr bth public and private trees shuld be spelled ut fr these and ther issues: Prper planting Pruning Spacing and sil vlume Sil cntent r prfile Mulching Fertilizing Insecticide Utility maintenance Minimizing cnstructin and develpment impacts Climbing and aerial maintenance Preservatin f large r significant trees (See Resurces, page 7) 4 Surce: qualitytreesurgery.cm

6 Tls & Yur Cmmunity Specify staff qualificatins. State the qualificatins expected f thse wh will tend t yur cmmunity frest. A certified arbrist has studied and passed the Internatinal Sciety f Arbrists (ISA) exam, shwing that they understand the bilgy f trees and basic skills fr their care. If yu d nt have a certified arbrist n staff, set a gal t train r hire at least ne. Select as a future gal that all staff wh care fr trees will be certified arbrists r have cmpleted a related degree prgram frm an accredited schl. Develp a planting strategy. This wuld include yur tree inventry and an inventry f lcatins where trees will be needed r culd be planted, ideally based n the need t Surce: wtwt.cm achieve diversity. Cnsider frming cllabratins with ther cmmunities r nursery cnsrtia t surce and purchase trees cst-effectively. T encurage tree planting n private prperty, yu may wish t plan a prgram that includes cst-sharing, vuchers, tree adptin, memrial trees, r fundraising. Plans shuld be made t plant bth in spring and in fall. Prepare fr lng-term maintenance. Review yur capacity t maintain yur current trees as well as the nes t be planted. Cnsider the future cst f maintaining trees as part f planting plans and budget. Plan t manage prblems. Analyze and assess resurces that can help yu build int yur plan a practive apprach t managing invasive and aggressive species, pests, r pathgens. Find r prepare fact sheets n varius cmmn invasive species, pests, r pathgens and cnsider including them as appendices. Prvide links t infrmatin n yur cmmunity's website. Be sure t include infrmatin which wuld be useful t private prperty wners. Organizatins that can prvide infrmatin and assistance include: The Mrtn Arbretum (mrtnarb.rg) Yur state's agriculture department Yur state's natural resurces department The Midwest Invasive Plant Netwrk (mipn.rg) Nrtheast Illinis Invasive Plant Partnership (niipp.net) (See Resurces, page 7) Set pririties and gals. Based n yur staff and advisry cmmittee's assessment f the current state f yur cmmunity frest, identify key areas t be addressed. This might include planting; achieving species diversity; pruning schedule; remval f dead trees; and replacement. Set specific gals fr the next five years. Surce: burnsville.rg 5

7 Tls & Yur Cmmunity Plan hw yu will enlist tree lvers as vlunteers. Educated vlunteers can be amng yur mst valuable resurces. If they are well trained and regularly scheduled t assist with tree care and planting, they can substantially extend yur prgram's r department's capacity. Here are sme tips fr rganizing a vlunteer prgram: Hurly rate fr a vlunteer $22.14 (independentsectr.rg) Spell ut required skills and tasks fr vlunteers t d. Clearly identify wh vlunteers will wrk with. Establish a regular time cmmitment and schedule f participatin. Cnsider hw a particular vlunteer can wrk with ne f yur staff n a regular basis. Help vlunteers feel part f the team and thank them fr their participatin and assistance. Prvide training pprtunities in frestry related tasks, just as yu wuld yur staff. Encurage vlunteers t participate in training prgrams such as TreeKeepers, Master Gardeners, state pesticide training, driver's safety, and equipment peratins training. (See Resurces, page 7) 1, 8-hur day per week = $ fr 52 weeks = $9, Create a disaster preparedness plan. With strms becming mre frequent and severe in a changing climate, this sectin f yur Tree Management Plan is very imprtant. Crdinate yur Tree Management Plan with yur cmmunity's emergency preparedness plan. Identify wh in the frestry department r rganizatin will be respnsible t head up the plan f actin. Identify in the appendices his/her qualificatins and wh reprts t him/her. Wrk with utility cmpanies n plans fr emergency respnse. Wh shuld yur residents call in the event f a prblem? Prvide scripts fr ffice persnnel wh will be answering the phnes. Map where the utility easements are and wh wns them s that yu can quickly identify respnsibility fr thse areas. Cnsider an annual cntract fr emergency tree assistance. Base the cntract n time and materials. Be sure t clearly state an expected respnse time fllwing the emergency and any penalties fr nn-cmpliance. Cnsider a jint assistance agreement with surrunding cmmunities t share staff, equipment, and materials likely t be needed in the wake f a strm r ther emergency. Plan fr renting extra equipment such as chippers, stump grinders, chain saws, and frklifts. Yu may wish t prvide a list f rental facilities fr this equipment in the appendices. Identify lcatins where brush and materials may be staged fr the shrt-term during cleanup. These lcatins may be parking lts f churches, schls, r cmmercial areas. Be sure t get an agreement ahead f time allwing use f these lcatins. Cnsider cntracting fr emergency delivery f rll-ff bxes fr smaller debris, r include this service in yur wastehauler cntract. Decide whether yu will allw private prperty wners t use any f these resurces and, if s, n what terms. Make it clear what residents shuld d in the event f an emergency. Pst instructins fr residents n yur website s that they can access this infrmatin quickly and easily. 6

8 Tls & Yur Cmmunity YOU HAVE A PLAN. NOW WHAT? Make yur plan public. Publish it n yur cmmunity's website. Make it available fr and present it t fficials, rganizatins, and interested residents. Prepare fr feedback. Base yur budget n yur plan. Yur shrt- and lng-term frestry budgets are the implementatin schedule fr yur tree management plan. Create a budget fr the cming fiscal year and a five-year prjectin t achieve the gals identified in yur plan. Here are sme items t be included in the budget: Staffing needs---salaries, training, memberships, certificatin, and travel Cst f trees and planting if yu d nt plant them yurselves r with vlunteers Equipment purchases, repairs, rentals, and replacements (include life expectancy f equipment) All csts assciated with the tree management plan including educatin, utreach, vlunteer training, website updates, etc. Develp an educatin and utreach strategy. Educatin and utreach are essential t building understanding and supprt fr the cmmunity frest. Residents wh supprt yur tree management plan will supprt yur budget. Prvide regular articles and infrmatin t yur residents r cnstituents n the care and management f bth public and privately wned trees. When pssible, include residents in training sessins n planting, mulching, and pruning trees. Engage them in vlunteer pprtunities and prgrams. Here are sme suggested tpics fr articles r talks: The benefits f trees Hw trees functin Pruning Mulching Planting Hw cnstructin can damage tree rts Watering parkway trees The need fr species and age diversity in the cmmunity frest. Surce: The Mrtn Arbretum Resurces Arbrist Training: Illinis Arbrist Assciatin---illinisarbrist.rg Internatinal Sciety f Arbriculture---isa-arbr.cm Sciety f Municipal Arbrists---urban-frestry.cm Tree Care Industry Assciatin---tcia.rg Illinis Pesticide Training and Licensing--- agr.state.il.us/envirnment/pesticide/training/cmmappl.html Benefits f Trees: Alliance fr Cmmunity Trees---actrees.rg Natinal Tree Benefit Calculatr---treebenefits.cm/calculatr Reginal Tree Census---mrtnarb.rg Disaster Preparedness: American Public Wrks Assciatin---apwa.net Internatinal Sciety f Arbriculture---isa-arbr.cm IL Public Wrks Mutual Air Netwrk---IPWMAN.rg Green Infrastructure: Chicag Wilderness Green Infrastructure Visin--- chicagwilderness.rg/what-we-d/prtecting-green-infrastructure Envirnmental Prtectin Agency--- water.epa.gv/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure Invasive Species: Illinis Department f Agriculture--- invasivespeciesinf.gv/unitedstates/il.shtml Nrtheast Illinis Invasive Plant Partnership---niipp.net Midwest Invasive Plant Netwrk---mipn.rg The Mrtn Arbretum---mrtnarb.rg U.S. Department f Agriculture--- Ordinances: Tree Ordinances & Yur Cmmunity--- mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees Sample Tree Ordinances---mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees : Sample --- mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees Standards: American Natinal Standards Institute (ANSI)---ansi.rg Internatinal Sciety f Arbriculture---Best Management Practices - isa.rg Vlunteers: Building Advcacy Fr Trees & Yur cmmunity--- mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees Illinis Tree Cmmissin Training Manual--- mrtnarb.rg/cmmunity-trees Openlands TreeKeeper Prgram---penlands.rg Tree Bard University---treebardu.rg Fr additinal questins r resurces cntact The Cmmunity Trees Prgram at: cmmunitytrees@mrtnarb.rg June 2013 The Mrtn Arbretum 7