City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/128847
selected to begin the UTC (Urban Tree Canopy) analysis. Davey Resource Group and local interns were hired to complete the i-Tree ECO analysis for the entire City of Pittsburgh. Jackson Clark Partners, a local consultant, was hired to complete a master plan benchmark report and to lead the public process. Davey Resource Group was retained to draft the report and provide technical assistance. During this process the Urban FMP Steering Committee was brought together. This group consisted of many of the stakeholders that participated in the 2010 symposium. Representatives from the City, local nonprofits, universities, and state and federal agencies were brought together to guide the planning process. A survey was conducted to assess the citizenry's perceptions of urban trees, including their opinions about funding of the urban forest. After 1,700 surveys were completed, a survey benchmark report was created to analyze the data. Public meetings were held in all four corners of the City to better reach as many citizens as possible. Meeting announcements were made through local community development corporations, non-profits, listserves, Council offices, etc. A campaign was started called "Every Tree Has a Story." Citizens were asked to tell us their tree story, good or bad, via whatever choice of media they preferred. The Mayor made a video telling his tree story of playing with his brother under a tree as a child. Public meetings consisted of a presentation on the state of the urban forest, which included many of the new findings from the UTC and the i-Tree ECO. Jackson Clark Partners worked as facilitators of the meetings. After presentations and question/answer sessions were complete, participants were asked for feedback on the presentation and for their perceptions: What did they perceive as the assets of the urban forest? And, what are the threats to the urban forest? Pittsburgh has many non-profit stakeholders. Tree Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy are a few with programming directly related to urban forestry. There are many other non-profits that deal with issues such as trails, water quality, and community development that are also involved with urban forestry. Bringing these groups together to work on the UFMP began to address some of the needs recognized by all these stakeholders. Implementation The Pittsburgh UFMP outlines many important goals and recommendations moving forward over the next 20 A Tree Pittsburgh intern leads children at Faison Elementary to point and shout "Grow Tree, Grow!" to a newly planted Metasequoia glyptostroboides on Arbor Day. Photo Courtesy of Tree Pittsburgh www.urban-forestry.com 13