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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1213404
Updated every five to eight years, the Town Plan should reflect the vision of their town's financial, eco- logical, and social landscape. Some towns are able to protect forested areas (in fact, a new State act requires towns to include forest block connectivity as an element of their updated Town Plans) but most are challenged to include tree planting or strategic refor- estation as necessary tools to protect water quality. In the last three years, VT UCF has partnered with 20 towns to create room for thoughtful roadside vegetation management in both urban and rural set- tings. Ten Vermont cities and towns examined their municipal bylaws to encourage green stormwater infrastructure in targeted downtown areas. Steered by the new Vermont Green Streets Guide, other downtown districts can now also follow suit in these practices as they apply to cold-weather climates. Additionally, ten rural towns formed Resilient Right- of-Ways committees to review recommendations specific to their backroad vegetation, addressing every- thing from rural roadside ash populations to forestry practices that identify and promote the healthiest trees in these challenging roadside environments. Throughout the process, VT UCF has elevated the role of the town tree wardens, encouraging road crews and selectboards to follow guidance from these local leaders dedicated to creating healthy and resilient tree canopy in their communities. For the tree wardens themselves, VT UCF hosted its first tree warden summit, designed to share experiences, address local concerns, and provide feedback on proposed updates to modernize the Vermont Tree Warden Statutes. Through support of local tree wardens, technical assistance for roadside vegetation management, grant funding for community tree planting, and resources dedicated to forest health and integrity, VT UCF continues to support the on-the-ground work communities do to plan and care for public trees that line their roads, parks, and backyards. With local partnerships and shared statewide resources, Vermont cities and towns are using trees to take responsibility for flood resilience and watershed health in their own backyards. —Joanne Garton, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program SavATree can help you look at the distribution of tree canopy across your city and relate it to the biophysical and social environment. Mapping is a tool to inform program, policy, and practice to identify opportunities for increasing environmental equity. We can assist with both mapping and practice support. savatree.com Trees | Shrubs | Lawn | Deer | Ticks | Consulting Where are the trees in your city? Contact us (888) 750-7977 www.savatree.com/consulting MEMBER This map, indicating tree canopy prioritization, addresses the need for green infrastructure, heat island relief and environmental justice. It factors in corresponding maps with the following variables: minority populations, median household income, impervious surfaces, surface temperature and existing tree canopy. Study Area Outline Highest Priority Medium Lowest Priority Census Block Groups Tree Canopy Prioritization