Park boards oversee some trees; engineering and planning departments are responsible for others. An effective urban forest program depends on all relevant departments working together.
Critical elements of a successful urban forest program often include:
- A tree-management plan.
- Citizen involvement to identify and help resolve issues, such as view protection.
- Public education on the value of protecting and enhancing urban forests.
- Training programs for local government staff on the benefits of an urban forest program and how best to link it with other programs, such as storm water management.
- Financial backing and support.
- Incentives to encourage developers and homeowners to plant trees.
- Regulations that protect existing trees and provide penalties for violations.
Urban forest inititatives:
- Seattle: Seattle has an urban forest management plan, with a goal to increase the canopy cover to 30 percent. The plan also focuses on replacement of the native mixed-conifer forest.
- Denver: Denver’s Mile High Million program is an ambitious tree-planting program announced in 2006, with a goal of adding one million new trees in the metropolitan area by the year 2025. Working with several community partners, the program includes priority setting, tracking, and coordination among different programs.
