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/599208
www.urban-forestry.com 17 is a good responsibility and can be leveraged for enjoy- ment, profit, and protection against anyone who might have an impact on their property. The Urban Forest The urban forestry legal code (see below) is separate from the more historical and celebrated regulations regarding natural resources found in national forests and wild timber management areas. But perhaps the management of the urban forest should bear more resemblance to the forest management on remote wild- lands or in national forests. US code Title 16 Conservation, Chapter 41 Cooperative Forestry Assistance, Sec. 2109(d) (3), The term "urban forestry" means the planning, establishment, protection, and management of trees and associated plants, individually, in small groups, or under forest conditions within cities, their suburbs, and towns. Protection and preservation of wildlands and national forests have been priority values for over a century in the U.S., and these same values are currently being utilized to combat the issues that threaten to undo a century of conservation effort—climate change, air pollution, invasive species, dwindling pollinator habitat, insect invasions, erosion, water quality, droughts, forest fires, and declining forest health. These issues are the same for urban forests. Although the urban forestry statute is not currently fully equipped with directives and enforceable standards, it is likely that requirements will be developed for the billions of trees found in populated areas. Shouldn't similar efforts to protect, manage, and utilize the urban forest be the UVM industry's mantra? Health and Safety The concept of urban forestry also includes the bene- fits it provides, such as wellness, mental health, and crime prevention. Academic research has established the value of the neighborhood forest, and that means more than just the trees in parks and along sidewalks. Trees are a dominant natural feature of a neighbor- hood. If it takes a neighborhood to raise a child, then the trees and landscapes should be carefully managed like houses, schools, streets, and other features of a neighborhood. Energy Conservation The use of trees for energy conservation is closer to the current purpose of UVM, but has not been an objective anytime in its history. It is possible that the Arbor Day Foundation's Energy-Saving Trees program will eclipse the Tree Line USA and Tree City USA programs that have made the Foundation a household name. What better customer service initiative is hanging on the tree like a ripe apple than energy conservation? In some cases, it is better to start anew. An example of a ROW that could be repurposed on the tree side as a snowmobile and bike trail, lined with pollinator habitat.