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/171276
and Columbia. Community forestry in Missouri is managed through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). This agency is unique in that a constitutional amendment in 1936 created a four-person, governorappointed, apolitical commission with six-year staggered terms. By staying out of politics and having long-term leaders, MDC has created a well-respected government agency dedicated to forest, fish, and wildlife. In 1976, a 1/8-cent sales tax was passed that keeps MDC fully self-sufficient. MDC has a long history of helping communities manage their trees. In 1967, a forester was dedicated to the growing Saint Louis region communities. A statewide coordinator position was created in 1978, and today we have eight regional urban forestry positions and the state coordinator. Together we urban foresters manage the Arbor Day Foundation programs, assist with advice and educational needs, administer cost-share grants, and network cities to help each other. Missouri has a statewide professional advocacy group called Missouri Community Forestry Council (MCFC) whose primary objective is education; each region takes the lead rotating to hold an annual conference. Forest ReLeaf of Missouri is a statewide non-profit that advocates for community trees through recruitment and education of volunteers as well as several programs that provide landscape sized trees for streets and parks. Missouri's Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) cost-share grant program helps many of our communities. Annually, approximately $275,000 to $300,000 is budgeted to provide 60-75% matching grants with inventory and management plans given high priority, tree pruning or removals medium priority, and planting a low priority. For many years, the maximum grant has been $10,000; however, last year we piloted offering three $25,000 grants for inventory or management plans only. (Extra consideration was given to people with lots of partners and lots of match.) The results were amazing, with a county-wide urban tree canopy (UTC) study for Saint Louis County (90 At a Joplin, Missouri street art fair, citizens could view possible replacement trees for replanting after the devastating May 2011 tornado. www.urban-forestry.com 23