USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Putting Down Roots in Your Community John Parry, US Forest Service, NA State and Private Forestry, Durham, NH

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Overview • What and Where are Urban Forests • Benefits Provided by Urban Forests • Management Activities to Consider – Tree Evaluation and Inventory – Planning for Storms – Role of Volunteers, and Other Partners • Tree Evaluation Field Exercises

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Presentation Outline • USFS Intro • UCF Program • Emerging Issues – Projects – Funding Sources? – New Tools • Resources Think Big for the Future of Urban Forestry

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry URBAN FORESTRY? Managing trees and forest resources in and around urban communities for the environmental, social, economic, and aesthetic benefits that trees provide society"

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Percent Urban (2000) • Over 70% of Our Population Lives in Urban Areas • The Average Community has 27% of It’s Land Area Covered With Tree Canopy

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Benefits • • • Air quality improvement Water quality improvement Cooler air temperature Building energy conservation Greenhouse gas reduction Aesthetics Noise reduction Wildlife habitat Social / physiological benefits Human health

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees in Neighborhoods are Vital to Community Health • • • Tree-filled neighborhoods: Lower levels of domestic violence Are safer and more sociable Tree-filled landscapes reduce stress Trees decrease need for meds & speed recovery times

USDA Forest Service AIR QUALITY • Temperature reduction • Removal of air pollutants & Emission of volatile organic compunds • Energy effects on buildings (shade) • 100 trees remove 53 tons of CO 2/year • 100 trees remove 430 lbs of pollutants per year, including: 72 lbs of ozone, 81 lbs particulates Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees Help Manage Storm Water Improve Water Quality • 100 mature trees catch about 539, 000 gallons of rainwater per year. . . - Less $ for stormwater control - Cleaner water

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees Save Energy for Home Owners Impact Climate Change – Save 56% of annual air conditioning costs – Save up to 25% of winter heating costs

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees Increase Property Values Houses Sell At Higher Prices • Each large front yard tree adds about 1% to sales price • Large trees can add 10%, or more, to property values

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees Mean Better Business In tree-lined commercial districts. . . • More frequent shopping • Longer shopping trips • Shoppers spend more for parking • Shoppers spend 12% more for goods

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Costs of the Urban Forest • • • Planting Maintenance And Removal Pruning Irrigation Insect and Disease Control Removal Of Tree Residue Fire Protection Infrastructure Repair Litigation and Liability Storm Damage Program Administration Health Concerns (Allergies)

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Trees Pay Us Back 100 Trees Over 40 Years. . . Benefits = $379, 000 Costs = $148, 000 Energy Planting - Pruning Air Quality Removal/Disposal Runoff Real Estate Irrigation Sidewalk Repair Litter Legal - Admin Pay Off: $231, 000

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Threats to the Urban Forest • Land Use Change • Construction Damage • Invasives Species • Natural Disasters • Poor Planning • Limited Places for Trees • Lack of Tree Care • Improper Planting/pruning • Human Activities • Pollution • Wounding/Vandalism

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Percent Urban (2000)

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Percent Urban (2050)

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry UCF Program Local, State & Federal Partners Increase The Quantity and Quality of Urban Tree Canopy In Urban Areas Protect Existing Tree Cover Increased Tree Planting Improved Tree Care U. S. Forest Service - $26 Million Nationally States provide technical, financial, educational, and research assistance Local partners develop sustainable UCF Programs in each city and town

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Sustainable Community Forest Management Programs • • Public Awareness & Education Support Volunteer Groups/Advocacy Tree Committee Or Board Tree Inventory - Management Plan Tree Ordinance Or Policy Well Trained Professional Staffing Fund Programs For Tree Planting, Protection and Care • Establish Canopy Cover Goals • Good Planning Process – Include Trees

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Storm Planning and Response for the Urban Forest

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Storm Damage

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Tree Emergency Plan Worksheet • • • • • • 1. Early Warning System/Weather Forecasting 2. Local Emergency 3. Public Relations 4. Disaster Planning And Response Team Members 5. Available Disaster Response Staff And Crews 6. Emergency Call Out 7. Primary Transportation, Evacuation Corridors 8. Critical Areas – Power Corridor Restoration & Medical Centers 9. Identify Who Is Responsible For Decision Making And Prioritizing 10. Tree Damage Clean-up 11. Procedure For Debris Staging And Removal 12. Debris And Brush Removal From Private Property 13. Identify Wood Utilization Options 14. Equipment Listing (Available In-house) 15. Additional Equipment And Assistance Sources 16. Staff, Crew Organization And Equipment Needs 17. Individual's) Responsible For Record Keeping 18. Individuals Responsible For Damage Assessment And Reports 19. Disaster Budget 20. Funding Information From Past Storms 21. Individual's) Or Organizations Responsible For Regreening 22. Community Urban Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan 23. Community Tree Risk Management Plan 24. Storm Damage Assessment

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry The 4 Phases of Emergency Management Response Planning Recovery Mitigation

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry 1. Mitigation Activities Taken To Minimize The Impact Of Future Storm Events

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Good Urban Forestry Management Program • • Public Awareness & Education Tree Inventory – Tree Management Plan Tree Ordinance Or Policy Well Trained Professional Staffing Establish Canopy Cover Goals Good Planning Process – Include Trees Proper Tree Planting, Protection and Care

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Risk Tree Assessments Many trees have pre-existing defects which help to predict failure

USDA Forest Service Good Planting • Match Species to Site • Use Quality Stock • Plant Correctly Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Good Tree Care Poor Limb Attachment Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service 2. Planning • Preparing To Handle An Emergency • Takes Place BEFORE An Emergency Occurs Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Storm Response Plan for Trees • People – Who will do what? • Priorities – Areas most at risk • Debris Handling – Establish sites and routes • Equipment – In house & contractual • Record Keeping • Policy/Legal Issues • Restoration

USDA Forest Service 3. Response • Actions Taken Immediately During A Storm Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Response • Activate Emergency Tree Service Contracts • Work With Utility Contacts • Clear And Move Tree Debris From Priority Traffic Lanes Walkways • Set Up Staging Areas For Debris • Do Immediate Tree Hazard Assessments • Communication (Internal/External) – Set Up Communications with Staff – Work With Media To Deliver Important Messages To Public • Document And Photograph Tree Damage And Response Work Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service 4. Recovery • Actions Taken To Return To Normal Or An Even Safer/Better Condition AFTER An Emergency Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Recovery Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry • Do Tree Damage Evaluations – Assess Trees For Hazards – Remedial Tree Pruning And Other Maintenance • Clean-up Debris Sites • Update Tree Inventory • Tree Planting • Fund Raising For Tree Program • Review Existing Policies And Plans • Communications/ Education On Proper Pruning Or Tree Planting Event • Continue To Keep Records For Financial Assistance

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Storm Damage Assessment Strike Teams • • New Initiative Similar To Fire Recruit And Train Professionals Deploy Crews To Disasters Crews Do Public Tree Assessments; – Hazard Tree Removals & Pruning – Estimate Debris Volume – Other Remedial Tree Work Needed – Provide Report That Documents Tree Work Needed & Cost

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry The Bottom Line. . . • • Quality of life is improved by tree benefits Benefits depend on healthy urban forests Healthy urban forests require quality care Quality care depends on people and communities taking action

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry For More Information www. na. fs. fed. us/urban

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry For More Information A. J. Dupere NH Division of Forests & Lands Urban Forestry Center Portsmouth, NH 603 -431 -6774 ajdupere@dred. state. nh. us Mary Tebo Davis University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service Manchester, NH 603 -629 -9494 x 140 mary. tebo@unh. edu John Parry U. S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry 603 -868 -77688 jparry@fs. fed. us WWW. NA. FS. FED. US/URBAN

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Sustainable Community Tree Programs • Public Awareness • Support Advocacy Organizations, Tree Committees Or Boards • Tree Inventory/Assessment • Management Plan • Establish Canopy Cover Goals • Tree Ordinance Or Policy • Well Trained Professional Staff • Fund Programs For Tree Planting • Protection And Maintenance

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Restoration after ALB and Storms

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Urban Forest Assessment Tools www. itreetools. org

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Poor Tree Care

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Poor Planning – Limited Space for Trees Wrong Tree Wrong Space

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Storm Damage

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Invasives • Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Worcester, MA, Ohi • Over 30, 000 Trees Removed - MA

USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry Increase The Quantity and Quality of Urban Tree Canopy In Urban Areas Protect Existing Tree Cover Increase Tree Planting Improve Tree Care