Madeleine Rauhe:
Having UCFS Accreditation has proven to be essential
time and time again for the City of Santa Monica!
We serve an engaged and passionate community,
making it imperative that our Urban Forestry team
is not only experienced but also pursues relevant
certifications, qualifications, and accreditations.
The City, its residents, and its trees expect and
deserve the best that we can offer. We are a very
positive team and enjoy community outreach
opportunities, which are made easier with pro-
fessional backing. UCFS Accreditation sets an
example and a base level of trust with the City
that we find to be necessary and invaluable.
It may seem silly to say this as a team of 2-3, but our
teamwork is one of our main superpowers. Urban
Forest Coordinator Robert Castañeda and I handle
over 1700 resident reports (311s) in a year as well
Santa Monica, California Urban Forest
Supervisor Madeleine Rauhe
Urban Forest Supervisor Madeleine Rauhe and Urban Forest Coordinator Robert Castañeda
enjoyed giving this interactive Arbor Day presentation to kindergarteners. "We talked about
the importance of trees in nature as well as our urban forest," Rauhe says. "We also brought
in some cones, acorns, leaves, and flowers from various trees to show how trees from
different areas have adapted to their environment." Photos Courtesy City of Santa Monica
as our day-to-day operations—such as pruning,
planting, design reviews, etc. All of this is done
through a balance of in-field and in-office work.
We maintain open and honest communication with
the other departments in the City government to
ensure that trees are taken care of at every stage of
their lives. We approach each new challenge with an
open mind and are not afraid to rely on each other
for brainstorming if we are not sure how to proceed.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Urban
Forest Task Force (UFTF), as they act as a checks-
and-balances system for Santa Monica's urban
forest. The UFTF meets bimonthly to discuss
resident concerns, upcoming projects that may
require tree removals, and even pests and diseases
impacting our urban forest. They vote on these
matters and provide insight to the Director of Santa
Monica Public Works, who has the final say. >>
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