By Jocelyn Bogen
February 12, 2007

Task Force Chair Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo led the Community Trees Taskforce January 26 in a discussion on ways to manage sustainable urban forest programs.

The meeting opened with The Home Depot Foundation’s Program Manager DeAnn Fordham announcing the 2007 Excellence in Community Tree Awards finalists. Fordham also gave an update on the community trees resource manual. The manual will be released in early spring and is a compilation of model local trees programs and ordinances, resources for national community trees assistance programs, and programs to further recognize city programs to promote trees.

Alice Walker,Executive Director, Alliance for Community Trees, gave an overview on Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition and ways the National Neighborwoods Program can assist mayors in managing their urban forests. Michelle Mauther Harvey with the Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition advised mayors to utilize the UFORE — the Urban Forest Effects model. UFORE method allows users to collect data on the entire urban forest and estimate the ecosystem services the resource provides to the community. For more information on the UFORE model, visit the website www.itreetools.org/.

Jim Skiera, Executive Director, International Society of Arborculture (ISA) provided information about the www.treesaregood.com website that was created to provide the general public with quality arboriculture, or tree care, related information. ISA’s mission is to educate and help the public acquire an understanding of the importance and value of proper tree care.

Fargo closed the meeting with a discussion on mayoral ways to promote municipal tree programs. She advised members to start including their “tree city” status on promotional pins and using municipal calendars to reinforce their commitment to urban forestry to the public.