California Trees Spring 2006
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A publication of California ReLeaf California Trees www.californiareleaf.org Tree City USA Award: One Urban Forester's Opinion By John Melvin ince 1976 The National Arbor Day Foundation has been administering the well-known nation- Sal urban forestry awards program for cities - the Tree City USA Award. To recognize higher Spring 2006 levels of tree management, the Tree City USA Growth Award was established in 1991, designed to Volume 16, No. 1 show that a city's tree program has significantly improved and is expanding and developing. As a further recognition, communities that have earned the Growth Award for 10 years receive the spe- cial Sterling Tree City USA designation. These programs are coordinated by the State Forester in each state. In California, the Inside: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) fills this role. The Director of CDF serves as the State Forester, who delegates the administration of the Tree City USA awards to the 6 Urban and Community Forestry Program, overseen by Program Administrator Glenn Flamik. From the perspective of a CDF Urban Forester, the Tree City USA awards program has many Network Profile: Vallemar Conservators good qualities, and some limitations. We'll look at some of the positives and negatives of this pro- gram. However, before we discuss the pros and cons of what this award means for the larger pic- 8 ture of urban forestry, let's look at some California-specific sta- Network Corner tistics. Tree City USA Statistics for California 10 Since last year's statistics have not yet been compiled, we Legislative Update will focus on the numbers for the calendar year 2004. In that year a total of 144 California cities qualified for Tree City USA status, and 16 cities were awarded the Tree City USA Growth Award. Two cities qualified for the Sterling Award in 2004. At press time it was learned that the City of Livermore fulfilled CDF Urban Forester John Melvin the qualifications to receive the Sterling Award for 2005, bring- presents the Tree City USA Award to the City of Santee at the 2005 ing the total number of California cities that have earned this Arbor Day celebration. recognition to five. (continued on page 2) Tree Advocate in Action: State Assemblyman Paul Koretz By Jane Braxton Little hen the City of West Hollywood planted seven new street trees Wto inaugurate a citywide urban forest campaign, Assemblyman Paul Koretz served as keynote speaker for the January 2005 ceremony. Empowering grassroots efforts and building strategic partnerships that "Whenever we've needed him for anything - anything! - he's there preserve, protect, and enhance for us," says Angee Beckett, executive director of the West Hollywood California’s urban and community forests. Tree Preservation Society. Koretz, a third-term California assemblyman, has spoken up for urban forests and other envi- ronmental causes throughout his career as a West Hollywood city councilman and state official. (continued on page 4) Tree City USA, continued from page 1 taken assumption. But most urban forestry professionals know that Tree City USA status The number of Tree City USA-qualified is a starting point for a program of planting cities has steadily increased in California, and care that must continue through the years. though the increase has slowed in recent years. California ReLeaf is a 501(c)(3) It recognizes that, yes, trees are important to a In 1994 there were 93 Tree City USA commu- nonprofit organization working community and we, as a town/city/community, nities in California. In 1999 the number had to empower grassroots efforts need to address them and invest in them. and build strategic partnerships increased to 119. In 2002 there were 142, in Also, Tree City USA status does not that preserve, protect, and 2003 there were 143, and as we mentioned address the issue of sustainability, which is a enhance California’s urban and before, in 2004 there were 144. So, as you can community forests. central concept in urban forestry. An urban see, there has been an increase of only one city forest should be able to pay for itself over time in each of the last few years. This may be a CALIFORNIA RELEAF and enhance the urban ecosystem. Tree City reflection of the recent recession. When forced P.O. Box 72496 status does not guarantee sustainability, but it Davis, CA 95617 to make budget cuts, often the first cuts a city is a step in the right direction. After all, the (530) 757-7333 makes are those items perceived as amenities, point of the Tree City USA program, from this (530) 757-7328 fax trees and other landscaping being among [email protected] Urban Forester's point of view, is to show that these. We urban forestry advocates know bet- urban forestry has payoffs in political and eco- ter - trees are assets, not amenities! What can STAFF: nomic terms and, ultimately, payoffs for urban Martha Ozonoff you do to alter this perception? If your city is ecosystems. Executive Director not a Tree City USA, a great place to start is to In my mind, another drawback is that the encourage the city to obtain that status. Elisabeth Hoskins requirements for Tree City USA status are rel- Network Coordinator Pros and Cons of the Program atively easy to meet. To qualify, a city needs to Although there are many positive aspects of Joe Liszewski have a department or board tasked with the the Tree City USA program, there are some Grant Coordinator responsibility for the community's trees, have a drawbacks that need to be discussed. First, tree ordinance that includes at least minimal BOARD OF DIRECTORS: there is a perception by many in municipal National Arbor Day Foundation specifications, Rick Mathews government that Tree City USA status means President observe Arbor Day, and spend a minimum of they are doing a great job and do not need to $2.00 annually per capita on its tree program. strive for improvement in urban forestry man- Gail Church Let us take a closer look at these four basic Secretary agement. Sad to say, even some municipal requirements. Every locality must have a arborists and foresters go along with this mis- Chuck Mills department or agency responsible for the com- Treasurer munity's trees, but in many cases these Nancy Hughes departments do not Teresa Villegas have tree experts on staff and often view www.californiareleaf.org trees as an afterthought. Though many munici- pal agencies have good, active tree programs, there are a significant number that view trees as secondary in impor- tance to other responsi- bilities. Perhaps it would be better to require a tree board or department that has as Photos for this story: CA Dept. of CDF Riverside Unit Chief Craig Anthony speaking at the Newport Beach Arbor its primary function the Forestry and Fire Protection Day celebration where he presented the Tree City USA Sterling Award for 2004. planting, care and 2 California Trees per capita for the very large cities, and slide upward based on popula- tion. This is a difficult issue, but $2.00 per capita is not sufficient for even a start-up urban forestry pro- gram. Also, this Urban Forester sees a good number of municipal tree programs using most of their budget dollars on maintenance only, leaving no funds for tree replacement and education. The Growth Award and Sterling Growth Award requirements would have to be adjusted as well. A place to start would be to develop guide- lines that move local programs Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste and city staff accept towards sustainability. In California the Tree City USA Award presented by the LA County Fire especially, it is time to push beyond Department’s Forestry Division and CDF. minimal tree maintenance efforts maintenance of trees. and move towards sustainable urban forestry The tree ordinance requirement should programs if we want to make our visions also be tightened for Tree City USA status. become reality. One way to do this would be to This is more difficult to accomplish since no up the ante for Tree City USA status, and up it one ordinance will work for all communities. further for the Growth and Sterling Growth Requiring an ordinance that includes tree care awards. best management practices, a comprehensive Tree City USA Program - A Great Tool management plan, and some sort of education In spite of the drawbacks, it is important to program would be a good start. recognize what Tree City USA status does for The requirement that a city observe Arbor urban forestry and the positive impact it can Day in order to obtain Tree City USA status have on a community. This awards program is a has the potential to raise awareness of urban great tool for bringing attention to the urban forestry in a community. However, there forestry needs of a community, but only if the should be some required components built program is used to bring about heightened pub- into the Arbor Day event. For instance, the lic awareness of those needs. ceremony should be a public event that is Marketing and Public Relations are very widely advertised, not just a small event important to the future of urban forestry. The involving city staff and elected officials that Tree City USA awards program can be a great this Urban Forester often sees. The bigger public relations tool, but is often not used for and better the event is, the greater the com- this purpose. We in the California urban munity's payoff for urban forestry and also forestry community need to do a better job from a public relations standpoint.