Five Year Plan
The Five-Year Plan for Georgia’s Urban & Community Forest 2007-2011 represents the ideas of more than 50 highly skilled staff and volunteers from 30 organizations working to improve the Urban and Community Forests of Georgia. Organizations represented included local, state and federal governments, universities, businesses, non-profits and military installations.
Introduction
Issues (pdf)
- Tree Canopy and Impervious Surface
An adequate amount of tree canopy and greenspace is not being managed and protected in
communities. Rapid land development is severely impacting community forest resources that
are already weakened by aging, insects, diseases, storms, and humans. By implementing this
plan we seek to increase canopy cover while decreasing the gain in impervious surfaces.
More information and Activities
- Understanding the Resource Value of Trees
All residents of Georgia, elected officials and resource managers are not aware the value of the
community forest resource and the common, shared environmental, social, economic and health
benefits provided by the community forest.
We seek to create public awareness of the value of trees. This is demonstrated by a 5% increase
in the number of managed and developed communities per year, an increase in the number of
certified arborists by 10% per year, an increase in the number of Tree City USAs by 10% per
year, and increased attendance at professional meetings. Activities
- Tree Maintenance Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Health and longevity of the community forest is degraded when community forest managers do
not have current research, technology and proper tree care techniques and standards at hand.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) for managing community forests have been developed, but
most communities have not adopted BMPs, or do not cite proper standards for tree care in tree
ordinances.
By implementing this plan we seek to improve the health and longevity of the urban forest. This
can be measured by the dollar value of growth of the tree care service industry the employs
certified arborists. Activities
- Local Ordinances and Policies that Regulate Land Development
Current regulations are preventing land development in which community forests are conserved
and enhanced. Local authorities must change regulations to allow, modify, and promote
development that conserves and enhances community forestry. We seek to encourage local
authorities to change these regulations. This is measured by a 5% annual increase in the number
of local ordinances that meet a protection goal, enforcement clause, penalty clause and suggested
staffing level. More information and Activities
- Professional Expertise to Promote Sustainable Community Forestry
Many communities do not utilize professional expertise for managing their community forest
resources. Awareness of and access to sources of professional urban forestry and arboricultural
expertise must be increased. We seek to increase awareness of and access to professionals by
certifying 300 landscape professionals through the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional
(GCLP) Program and certifying 250 Certified Arborists through the International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA). Activities
- Design with Tree Longevity in Mind
Poor design and increased use of hardscape contributes to the loss of tree growing space and
community forest decline because designers are not trained and educated in tree biology. We
seek to create a tree design standard module for design professionals. Activities
For more information on the Five-Year Plan contact Susan Reisch at sreisch@gfc.state.ga.us or (678) 476-6227.
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