Urban and Comm Urban and Community Forestr unity Forestry

Accomplishment Repor Accomplishment Report, FY 2002 FY 2002 

iii

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v

Overview of State and Private Forestry 

Mission Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii

Program Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Region 1 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

and Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Region 4 Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Region 2 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Region 3 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Region 5 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Federated States of Micronesia . . . . . . .21

Guam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

Islands (CNMI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Republic of Palau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Region 6 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Region 8 Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Region 10 Regional Overview

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Northeastern Area

Regional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Earmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Northeast Pennsylvania Urban Forestry

Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Chicago Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Green Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

DePaul University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

National Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Alliance for Community Trees . . . . . . .77

American Forests—

Green Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Hispanic Web Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Living Memorial Project . . . . . . . . . . . .79

RPA Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Society of Municipal Arborists . . . . . . .82

Title VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Region 5 Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Region 8 2003 American Forests Summary Report .88

Atlanta, Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Birmingham, Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Fairfax, Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Fayetville, Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Greensville, South Carolina . . . . . . . . .93

Houston, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

New Orleans, Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Roanoke Area, Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Region 10 Ancorage, Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Northeastern Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Baltimore, Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Battle Creek, Michigan . . . . . . . . . . .103

Boston, Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . .104

Bufflo, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Chicago, Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Calumet, Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Madison, Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

St Paul, Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

Nework and Wilmington, Delaware . . .110

New York, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Northern, New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . .113

Syracuse, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Washington Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Federal Coordinators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

The National Association of State Foresters . .120

Urban and Community Forestry Accomplishment Report, FY 2002

v

Executive Summary

The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program

addresses the stewardship needs of urban natural

resources where 80 percent of the Nation lives. Because

important connections exist between the quality of life

in metropolitan areas and land consumption associated

with sprawl, there is a strong economic and environmental

case for conservation and management of green space

to guide growth and revitalize city centers and older

suburbs. The U&CF Program responds to these needs

for more than 70 million acres of America’s urban and

community forest resources.

Administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) Forest Service regional offices and the

Northeastern Area, the U&CF Program provides 

technical assistance and funding to State forestry

agencies and other partners to maintain, restore, and

improve the health of urban trees, forests, greenspaces,

and sustainable forest ecosystems. This document

includes program overview reports of accomplishments

by these organizations, as well as specific reports of

how State forestry agencies and other partners leveraged

funds to achieve program goals and objectives. 

Through these efforts, the program encourages and

promotes the creation of healthier, more livable urban

environments across the Nation. In administering the

program, the USDA Forest Service will continue to

expand partnerships with many organizations to restore

natural resources in older, declining cities and towns.

U&CF Program Objectives:

• Provide technical and financial assistance

• Strengthen USDA Forest Service and State leadership

in the care of urban and community forest resources

• Increase transfer of technical information

• Increase awareness and educaton about the 

importance of healthy urban forest resources

• Promote volunteerism and citizen participation

• Ensure urban greening efforts are biologically 

sound and sustainable

vii

Introduction

The State and Private Forestry mission area of the

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service

helps manage, protect, and better use all America’s

forests. The role of this mission area is more direct on

the Federal lands where we help control wildfires and

major forest pests and diseases, and more indirect on

non-Federal lands where we work with States and

communities, in a variety of cooperative programs.

These include forest pest management, fire protection,

cooperative forestry, economic development, and 

conservation education. The programs of this mission

area help all land managers—Federal managers, small

woodlot owners, tribal lands, and State agencies—in

ways that help maintain the health and sustainability

of trees, forests, and forested ecosystems and associated

communities.

Mission

Benefit people by helping manage and protect their trees,

grass and chaparral lands, and forested landscapes

through expert advice and direct action, innovative

technology, and financial assistance. 

Vision

Through focused investments, we will help manage,

protect, and use our natural resources so they remain

healthy and sustainable. Our role is more direct on

public lands and in cooperation with partners on

State, private, and tribal lands. Our assistance is

viewed as essential to the well-being of people and

their communities.

Program Components

The following are the major program components of

the State and Private Forestry mission area:

• Urban and Community Forestry. Enhance the 

livability of towns, communities, and cities by 

improving the stewardship of urban natural resources.

• Forest Health Protection. Help sustain the health 

and productivity of trees, forests, and forested 

watersheds through the management, control, and 

eradication of insects and diseases, including noxious

weeds on all lands. This program component 

includes forest health monitoring to assess forest 

sustainability trends.

• Cooperative Fire Protection. Improve the fire 

management and control capability of States, 

including their volunteer fire departments, through 

financial assistance, training, improved equipment, 

and coordination. This includes helping develop 

an optimal firefighting capability to augment the 

most efficient Federal firefighting level and to ensure

the protection of lives and property in the 

wildland-urban interface areas.

• Cooperative Forestry. Help States improve the 

multiresource management of non-Federal rural and

urban forest lands through technical and financial 

assistance in a series of programs, including forest 

stewardship, forest legacy, and economic 

diversification and expansion. 

• Conservation Education. Connects people to the 

land by increasing their awareness of the natural 

and cultural environment, helping them understand

the complexities of ecological issues, and teaching 

them how to conserve natural and cultural 

resources for future generations.

Overview of State and Private Forestry Mission Area

1

The program overview section provides a description

of how the Urban and Community (U&CF) Program is

delivered through the regions and the Northeastern

Area and highlights accomplishments achieved in various

States by State forestry agencies—our primarily delivery

system—and other partners. This section includes brief

descriptions of State U&CF program activities, State

councils, volunteer activities, and contact information.

These descriptions demonstrate how States and other

partners are maintaining, restoring, and improving

the health of urban trees, forests, and greenspaces.

Through these efforts, the U&CF Program encourages

and promotes the creation of healthier, more livable

urban environments across the Nation.

Program Overview

3

Program Overview

In 2002, Region 1 and Region 4 merged their State and

Private Forestry (S&PF) staffs into one unit covering

both regions. Bill Boettcher is the S&PF staff director

and Paul Ries is the S&PF deputy director. Each staff

person is now responsible for fewer S&PF programs,

but covers all five States (Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana,

and North Dakota) in the two regions. Glenn Roloff is

now responsible for administration, including oversight

and monitoring, of the Urban and Community Forestry

(U&CF) Program in both regions.

National Forest Volunteer U&CF Program

In 1992, Region 1 initiated a program involving

national forest personnel as volunteers to assist their

communities in their U&CF efforts. Each year a request

for proposals (RFP) is sent to all national forests and

grasslands in the region. USDA Forest Service personnel

then help communities develop a proposal for a grant

to undertake U&CF projects, such as tree planting,

street tree inventories, and hazard tree removal. One

of the stipulations is that USDA Forest Service personnel

volunteer their time and expertise in conducting the

projects. Since 1992, 83 projects in 58 communities

have been funded in areas adjacent to 21 national

forests and grasslands. With the merger of the two

regions in 2002, Nevada and Utah communities became

eligible for the first time. Twenty-nine project proposals

were submitted, with 15 communities in the five State

areas approved for grants.

Administration

The Region1/Region 4 U&CF Program leader provides

guidance, direction, oversight, and monitoring of the

U&CF Program in the five States. This person is also 

a member of the National U&CF Technology Transfer

Team. Glenn spends considerable time and effort on

the U&CF technology transfer to the State foresters

and other partners.

Regions 1 and 4

Northern and Intermountain Regions
4

watering yet provide a beautiful landscape.

Techniques such as placing weed barriers beneath

chip mulch and using drip irrigation are also part of

the demonstration.

For more information, contact Project Coordinator

Paula Jones of Three Rivers Resource Conservation 

& Development, 1551 Baldy Ave., Pocatello, ID 83201.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 147

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 95

Number of hours of training provided: Did not track

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 9,070

Number of trees planted: Did not track

Number of Tree City USA communities: 61 (with 19

Growth Awards in 2002)

Other facts:

• Held 30 workshops on topics such as planting, 

pruning, inventories, chainsaw safety, and inventories.

• Cohosted (with Oregon, Washington, and Alaska) a 

2-day Community Trees Conference in Boise.

Contact

David Stephenson

Community Forestry Coordinator 

Idaho Department of Lands 

3780 Industrial Avenues So. 

Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 

208–666–8621 (phone)

208–769–1524 (fax)

e-mail: dstephenson@idl.state.id.us

Program Overview

The State of Idaho is geographically rich and diverse,

with ecosystems ranging from desert to alpine. This

diversity, coupled with the large land area (the travel

distance from the southeast corner of the State to the

Canadian border in the panhandle is the same as

between Washington, DC, and Chicago), can make it

very challenging to deliver community forestry assistance.

Yet Idaho continues to have a very active community

forestry program. About 66 percent of Idaho's population

lives within the State's 200 incorporated communities

and cities. Idaho's U&CF Program provides technical

and financial assistance to increase public awareness

and understanding of the value of sound community

forestry management. This program assists Idaho

communities in establishing and enhancing sustainable

community forests on public and private lands. For

the third consecutive year, the Idaho Transportation

Department supplemented the U&CF Program with

$110,000 to landscape terraces and parks along

transportation corridors within communities. The

Idaho Department of Lands has partnered with all

nine Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D)

Councils to deliver community forestry assistance locally

throughout the State. The Arbor Day Trust Account

was once again able to provide financial assistance to

cities statewide to celebrate Arbor Day. Some 73 percent

of Idaho communities were involved in the U&CF

Program. The number of Tree Cities also continues 

to grow rapidly—61 Idaho communities are now so

designated. As a percentage of all communities in the

State (31 percent), Idaho ranks near the top of all

States in the Nation. 

Program Accomplishments

Landscaping That Teaches

By Dr. James Fazio

The City of Pocatello is getting double–—or triple—

duty out of a strip of landscaping next to city hall.

Thanks to a Community Transportation Enhancement

grant from the Idaho Transportation Department and

Idaho Department of Lands’ Community Forestry

Program, the landscaping beautifies the roadside at 

a major intersection and buffers the impact of a large

parking lot. But its usefulness does not stop there.

The buffer strip has been designed to show visitors

how plant selection and maintenance can save water.

This unique site includes a walkway that starts in a

typical high water–use zone (complete with turf),

requiring about 18 inches of water per season. It winds

its way through a moderate-use zone, requiring 12

inches of water, to a low-use zone that needs only 8

inches of irrigation water. Interpretive signs and

leaflets are being developed and will help promote the

use of trees and other vegetation that require little

Idaho

Members of the Idaho Community Forestry Council inspect

Pocatello’s low water–use demonstration area during the

council’s summer meeting. The group is near the start of a

walkway in the first of three zones that require different

amounts of irrigation water.
5

Many community residents attended the Arbor Day tree-planting

ceremony in Forsyth, MT.

Program Overview

In its 12th year as a national program created in the

1990 Farm Bill, the U&CF Program continues to grow

in Montana. The mission of the program remains the

same: to have a viable program in every community in

the State. The program assists community leaders,

volunteers, local governments, and the tree care

industry with technical assistance, planning, funding

for local programs, volunteer coordination, and 

education. The program works closely with several

major partners, including Federal agencies, Montana

Resource Conservation District areas, the university

systems, and private organizations. Staff also participates

in the Montana League of Cities and Towns, local tree

and park boards, and volunteer organizations. 

Program Accomplishments

In 2002, the Eastern Montana community of Forsyth

(pop. 1,400) began a citywide and schoolwide tree

project titled The Forsyth Tree Project. Forsyth teachers

integrated Arc View/GIS training into the high school

curriculum for the purposes of using students to conduct

a community tree inventory and learn the software.

The result was a K–12 participation in an all-school

Arbor Day celebration with educational, hands-on

activity booths, tree plantings, and school programs.

Additionally, students are serving on the Forsyth

Community Tree Board; assisting with revisions of

Forsyth’s tree ordinance and writing grants to help

fund community tree plantings. The community has

submitted its application for Tree City USA designation

for 2002 and has presented the project to the

International Society of Arboriculture, Rocky Mountain

Chapter, at its annual conference in Colorado. The

board plans to make the citywide and schoolwide 

program an annual event.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 125

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 105

Number of hours of training provided: No record

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 500 

Number of trees planted: No record

Number of Tree City USA communities: 28

Contact

Kelley Gundale

U&CF Program Manager

Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Forestry Division

2705 Spurgin Road

Missoula, MT 59804–3199

406–542–4284 (phone)

406–542–4203 (fax)

Montana
6

This Washoe County, Nevada, community park tree-planting

project brought out more than 175 volunteers who planted

68 trees.

Local volunteer labor, such as this local policewoman provided,

contributed to a very successful tree-planting project that

received Nevada Recreation and Park Society Program

Excellence Award.

Program Overview

Nevada's U&CF Program assists communities in

developing and maintaining their urban forests

through financial, 

educational, and technical tree care and planting

assistance. Subgrants have been awared to 70 Nevada

communities throughout the State. Nevada’s U&CF

Program sponsors national programs such as Tree

City USA and National Arbor Day Poster Contest, the

National Big Tree Program. Nevada is currently updating its State Big Tree Register and has measured more

than 100 new trees for the new edition. 

Program Accomplishments

Sun Valley Community Park was awarded a Title VIII

Metropolitan Statistical Area grant for a community

park tree-planting project. A Title VIII grant for $9,166

was awarded to Washoe County for a tree-planting

project around the new teen center at the Sun Valley

Community Park, a 27-acre park that serves more

than 71,000 visitors a year. Funding for forestation is

limited in Sun Valley, resulting in a park with several

large, unattractive, barren dirt areas. The goal 

of this project was to plant trees to screen a newly

built teen center from a residential area, reduce blowing dust and soil erosion, and beautify the park. The

entire community was mailed a tree care handout

developed by the project coordinator. On "Adopt a Park"

day in the fall of 2002, 175 volunteers showed up and

planted 68 trees. The project received a Nevada

Recreation and Park Society Program Excellence award.

The project was matched with more than $16,000 in

cash contributions and in-kind matching funds.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 53

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 59

Number of hours of training provided: Not tracked

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 471 

Number of trees planted: 271 (grant projects trees

only; does not include shrubs)

Number of Tree City USA communities: 8 

Contact

Susan Stead

Urban Forestry Program Coordinator

Nevada Division of Forestry

2525 South Carson Street

Carson City, NV 89701

775–684–2506 (phone)

775–687–4244 (fax)

Nevada
7

Program Overview

The 2000 U.S. Census identified 372 communities in

North Dakota. This number includes military bases

and tribal communities. Of the 642,200 people who

live in North Dakota, 53 percent of them live in the 15

largest cities in the State. To the people of these cities,

natural resource management means conservation

activities in city parks, tree-lined streets, and other

green spaces within their communities. Our greatest

ability to reach out to them and improve their 

appreciation and understanding of forest resources

lies in working with them, within their towns and

cities, to accomplish locally identified social, economic,

and environmental goals.

Program Accomplishments

After the August 8, 2001, wind event, the Grand Forks

Herald’s parent company, Knight Ridder, donated

$25,000 to the reforestation of five communities that

were hardest hit within the readership of the newspaper.

This program was called the Knight Ridder Releaf

Program. The wind event did not recognize State

boundaries, with the communities most affected from

the storm located in both North Dakota and Minnesota.

The two State forestry agencies worked together to

implement and deliver the program. One of the goals

that came from discussions with the communities was

the need for training on storm management and trees.

In the spring 2002, the two States hosted a "Storm

Management and Trees" workshop located in Grand

Forks. More than 80 people attended the workshop. 

The 500 Lewis and Clark (L&C) Cottonwoods grown

from seed collected from the Smith Grove 2 years ago

will be ready for distribution to North Dakota grade

schools this year. As reported last year, this project

started with the effort to help communities prepare for

the upcoming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. A new

partnership was formed with the North Dakota

National Guard; they transported the 6-foot L&C

Cottonwood trees to the 400 grade schools in the

State.

North Dakota Community Forestry Council

The North Dakota Community Forestry Council is an

advisory group composed of 19 members from

Federal, State, tribal, and local entities, as well as

green industry and nonprofit groups. The council

assists the State forester in recommending direction

for the State Community Forestry Program. 

Volunteer Program

The goal of the U&CF Program is to provide leadership

"to care for, protect and improve community forestry

resources for current and future generations." 

The North Dakota Forest Service is responsible for

providing leadership and technical assistance to 

volunteer groups, cities, and other local government

entities in all phases of forestry. Program assistance

includes tree-planting plans, management plans, shade

tree ordinances, pest surveys, and tree-maintenance

workshops.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 123

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 123

Number of hours of training provided: 3467

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 571

Number of trees planted: 9,194

Number of Tree City USA awards: 54

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 9

Number of projects and outreach to culturally diverse

communities: 7

Number of community forestry workshops and 

training events: 14

Contact 

Jackson Bird

Urban & Community Forester

North Dakota Forest Service

307 First Street East

Bottineau, ND 58318

701–329–9944 (phone)

e-mail: W.Bird@ndsu.nodak.edu

North Dakota
8

Program Overview

The purpose of Utah’s UC&F Program is to support

the establishment of locally directed tree management

programs in Utah communities. A major goal is to

enhance the quality of life for Utah’s citizens through

increasing the awareness of the benefits that community

trees provide.

Utah’s UC&F Program contributes to the implementation

of the Utah Tomorrow Strategic Plan adopted by the

Utah Legislature in 1995. Among those adopted strategies

addressed through the U&CF Program are the promotion

of environmental quality for air, water, and flora, and

the encouragement of partnerships between those

parties who manage, develop, and use renewable and

nonrenewable resources. Many partnerships between

Federal government, local government, and volunteer

organizations contribute to the great success this 

program has achieved throughout the years.

In 2002, the National Arbor Day Foundation recognized

33 Utah cities as Tree City USA communities. These

33 communities represent 46 percent of the State’s

population, or 1,053,720 citizens, who experienced

the benefits of trees.

Program Accomplishments

During 2002, Salt Lake City, UT, hosted the 2002

Winter Olympics Games. The Community Forest

Partnership was formed to work with communities 

to plant trees at selected Olympic gateway and venue

sites. The partnership supported projects in 21 communities

and 8 counties. More than 5,400 volunteers contributed

23,100 hours of service to plant 4,825 trees. The

$500,000 in Federal money leveraged $854,800 

of matching contributions. 

Title II Inner City funds provide grants to support

projects that benefit underserved or low-income 

communities within Utah’s largest cities or metropolitan

areas. The State provided Tree Utah, a Title II grant,

to develop a "Youth Employment Training and

Stewardship Program" in the Salt Lake metropolitan

area. This project held 2 series of classes addressing

urban trees; tree planting, and tree care for 28 students of 5 intercity schools. Students participated in 2

urban plantings, the restoration of one urban riparian

area by planting 100 seedlings, and the pruning and

mulching of 40 street trees in urban areas. Two graduates

of this program were placed in seasonal jobs assisting

with the urban tree program.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 64

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 40

Number of hours of training provided (approx.): 264

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 5,100

Number of trees planted: 34,800

Number of Tree City USA communities: 33

Contact

Dave Schen

Urban Forestry Coordinator

Utah Division of Forestry,

Fire & State Lands

P.O. Box 145703

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5703

801–538–5504 (phone)

801-533-4111 (fax)

e-mail: daveschen@utah.gov

Utah
9

Program Overview

The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) program

focuses its efforts on helping communities develop

and sustain their own forest resource management

programs through technical and financial assistance

delivered by a partnership of Federal and State

forestry with many local partners, communities, and

organizations. 

• Fifty-three percent or 1,000 of the communities 

in he five-State region have a level of program 

development from project level to the fully sustained

project. This number represents an increase of 

communities over last year. In 2003, the region 

anticipates that a 5-percent increase will bring the 

number of communities the program works with to 

nearly 1,100.

• Volunteerism and education are integral parts of 

the programs.

• Of major significance is the local leverage of $28.8 

million, or nearly 15 times the Federal investment. 

States, local communities, businesses, and citizens 

made these investments.

Goals

• Establish and enhance relationships with local, 

State, and other Federal agencies and entities in 

support of developing capacity at the community level.

• Support the development of cultural values that 

recognize the importance of natural resources in 

populated places.

• Increase the capacity of State forestry agencies, 

local governments, and communities with the private

sector to create and implement local programs that 

will sustain and improve urban and community 

natural resources.

Encourage people to become actively involved in

managing and protecting their urban and community

forest and natural resources, especially in the

areas of natural disaster prevention and response.

Issues

• Rapid and unplanned urbanization is creating 

significant natural resource degradation, compounding

local social and economic issues. Environmental 

justice issues arise in urban areas as a result of 

changing demographics and the cities’ inability to 

respond to restoration needs.

• Local communities are not able to care for and 

maintain their forest resources because of increasing

demand for services and the declining ability to 

meet demands.

• Our urban forests are aging, the health of natural 

resources is declining, and pollution is increasing--

making inner city urban areas less desirable places

in which to live, work, and play.

• Community risk to natural disaster has been identified

as a high-priority issue; however, risk reduction at 

the community level remains a challenge to smaller

communities and those with limited resources.

Program Highlights 

In Oglala, SD, a tornado ripped through the small

town. Urban forestry has responded by meeting with

the residents and hearing the message that people

want trees. A small grant has helped to reestablish a

community forest. On September 26, 2000, community

volunteers planted 102 landscape trees, and in May

and June of 2001, they planted another 141 trees.

This effort brings together Federal, State, and local

governments with Sioux tribal members in an effort to

revitalize community and incorporate native culture. 

Grant programs remain strong throughout Nebraska,

the home of Arbor Day. In South Omaha, members 

of St. Joseph’s church worked with local community

volunteers to plant trees in a blighted neighborhood. The

grant helped to bring together a troubled community

in a positive fashion. Nebraska Forest Service also

worked with other State agencies, such as the health

department, on sustaining neighborhood efforts.

The city of Casper, WY, continued with a greatly

enhanced approach to managing their urban forest.

During the year, they planted 1,459 trees and pruned

more than 100 mature trees. A change of local ordinances

authorized the community to manage its boulevard

trees, and $100,000 was allocated from the city budget

to continue with the work. The State forester also

assisted technically with an inventory of the urban

forest and updated the inventory with the city’s

Geographic Information System (GIS).

Colorado Cares Day had its first community forestry

program this year at the Capital Park in Denver. The

program presented results from an urban ecosystem

assessment that demonstrate the economic and ecologic

value of trees. This effort is being followed by an urban

carbon credit and forest health project.

In Parsons, Tonganoxie, and Hoisington, KS, a 

coordinated effort has assisted the communities to

remove hazardous trees and maintain other damaged

ones, to replant tornado-devastated areas, and establish

a social framework for providing long-term management

of the community forests. After a tornado, hazardous

trees are identified and removed; damaged trees are

cared for; and new trees are planted.

Region 2

Rocky Mountain Region
10

Program Overview

There are 396 cities and towns in Colorado. The U&CF

coordinator, in conjunction with district foresters, 

provides technical and educational support to more

than 330 communities, most of which are organized

under a volunteer tree board/program. The Tree City

USA Certification and Recognition Program is one

measure of the success of local volunteer efforts. 

Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year (FY) 2002 the U&CF division underwent

a major change. In February, the division conducted

interviews for the division supervisor position and

selected Ralph Campbell. In October, U&CF added two

assistant staff positions. Keith Wood, who will be in the

Broomfield office, will serve the Denver metro area and

assist with the Eastern Slope districts. Vince Urbina,

whose office will be in Grand Junction, will assist 

districts and communities on the Western Slope. 

Two people from Colorado won National Arbor Day

Foundation Awards in 2002. Phil Hoefer received the

Frederick Law Olmsted Award and Gertie Grant with

Denver Digs Trees received a Project Award.

The Colorado State Forest Service, the Colorado Tree

Coalition, the International Society of Arboriculture—

Rocky Mountain Chapter, and the City and County of

Denver teamed up to sponsor Tree Spree. Tree Spree,

an event open to the public, includes educational 

displays, a tree-climbing championship, and a bike

ride. The bike ride raises funds that are split between

the International Society of Arboriculture and the CTC

for research and tree-planting projects.

The U&CF held many other educational workshops

around the State, covering topics that currently affect

communities and the State as a whole. The major 

topics include wildland urban interface issues, hazard

trees, droughts, and general tree care.

A resident from the town of Lamar won the 2002

statewide National Arbor Day Poster Contest, a program

that is expanding throughout the State. In FY 2002,

the number of submitted posters tripled from that of

FY 2001.

In FY 2002, 90 communities in the State of Colorado

were designated as Tree City USA communities. Many

of these smaller communities do not have a city forestry

department but rely upon volunteer tree boards to

provide information and expertise to city leaders. The

U&CF coordinator, the district staff, and the CTC work

together to ensure these people are well informed

through various tree care workshops, onsite training,

and tree-related seminars. 

The Colorado State Forest Service helped the CTC 

produce the 2003 Notable Trees of Colorado calendar,

which depicts 12 notable trees from around the State

and includes tidbits on the planting, care, and 

management of the urban forest.

The U&CF Council

Colorado’s State Council, the Colorado Tree Coalition

(CTC), is growing in number and visibility throughout

the State. The coalition provides financial and technical

assistance to many communities throughout the State.

In FY 2002, 22 communities received grants totaling

$40,127. This funding resulted in adding 3,425 trees

to the urban forest. Through the partnership with the

USDA Forest Service, along with other nonprofit groups

and corporations, the CTC has been able to award

272 communities with grants totaling $410,076 in the

past 11 years. This effort resulted in planting 54,931

trees and completing many educational brochures and

publications. 

Volunteer Program

Strong partnerships are being formed with tree boards

and communities and also with nonprofit groups. The

State coordinator has helped link together many groups

such as the Colorado Tree Coalition, the International

Society of Arboriculture, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado,

and volunteer tree boards to preserve, renew, and

enhance community forests throughout the State.

Each year volunteers contribute more than 10,000

days of service.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 298

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 330

Number of hours of training provided: 7,246

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 9,033

Number of trees planted: 8,750

Number of Tree City USA communities: 90

Contacts

Ralph Campbell

Community Forestry Coordinator

Colorado State Forest Service, CSU

Fort Collins, CO 80523

970–491–6303 (phone)

970–491–7736 (fax)

e-mail: rcampbl@lamar.colostate.edu

Colorado
11

Program Overview

Kansas has a total of 925 incorporated and unincorporated

cities and towns, which comprise 902,000 acres of

land and represent 79 percent of the total State 

population of 2.5 million. The Kansas Forest Service’s

(KFS’s) U&CF Program focuses on 638 communities 

of these communities. These communities are home to

76 percent of the State population. The KFS’s program

priorities are (1) organization of local volunteer "tree

boards" to advise the government on public tree 

activities, (2) tree planting, (3) tree care and maintenance,

(4) dead tree removal, and (5) waste wood use.

Program Accomplishments

The 30th annual weeklong Arborist Training Course,

cosponsored by the Kansas Forest Service and Kansas

Arborist Association (KAA), trained 40 arborists. Since

1975, more than 1,260 individuals have taken the

course, with more than 200 of the students going on

to become certified arborists with the KAA. In addition,

the staff of the KFS, working with other local and State

organizations, provided 52 total community forestryrelated training and outreach events across the State

to reach more than 4,910 individuals. Eleven of the

events were U&CF-topic-specific, day-long training

events; 22 supported conservation and education

efforts to K-12 students; and 19 were engagements and

presentations to local and State civic organizations

across the State. Capacity building continues to be a

priority of the agency. Recognizing the need to build

upon partnerships and collaboration, a special emphasis

continues to be placed in working and developing 

relationships with other "green" interest groups within

the State. The KFS’s U&CF coordinator attended 

business-related meetings and activities and initiated

dialogue for future cooperative efforts among the Kansas

Arborist Association, Kansas Nursery and Landscape

Association, and other green industry organizations.

Volunteer Program

The U&CF coordinator, in conjunction with eight 

district foresters, provides technical and educational

support to more than 130 communities, most of which

are organized under a volunteer tree board/program.

The Kansas Tree City USA Certification and Recognition

Program is one measure of the success of local volunteer

efforts. During the past program year, 97 communities

were certified as Tree City USA communities. The

combined volunteer efforts of more than 506 individuals

serving on local tree boards, with the support and

assistance of their local district foresters, coordinated

the planting of more than 20,544 trees, pruned more

than 88,396 trees, and removed an additional 10,493

trees that were dead or dying or represented hazards.

These communities, which represent more than 62

percent of the population of Kansas, spent more than

$14 million in managing and protecting the State’s

community forest resources.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 213

Number of technical assists to communities: 130

Number of training hours provided: 4,801

Number of days of volunteer assistance to 

program: 1,950

Number of trees planted: 20,544

Number of Tree City USA communities: 97

Number of community assessments: 7

Number of community inventories: 8

Number of community management plans: 13

Number of U&CF workshops and training events: 11

Contact

Eric Berg

Community Forestry Coordinator

Kansas Forest Service 

2610 Claflin Road

Manhattan, KS 66502-2798

785–532–3308 (phone)

785–532–3305 (fax)

e-mail: EBerg@oznet.ksu.edu

Kansas
12

Arbor Day celebration.

Program Overview

During FY 2002, the Nebraska Forest Service launched

new initiatives in three areas in addition to maintaining

the normal function of the community forestry program.

Addition of a second assistant and redistribution of

priorities among the three staff enabled those initiatives

to be successful.

Program Accomplishments

Nebraska Tree Improvement Program

We know through research and studies that trees that

are properly maintained in an urban setting tend to

last longer and are more vigorous and healthy than

those that are not. The Nebraska Legislature established

the Tree Recovery Program (TRP) to help communities

with tree removals. The program is aimed at removal

and replacement of hazardous or dangerous trees. But

there remains a great need for public tree maintenance. The

Nebraska Forest Service received a special grant from

the USDA Forest Service to try a pilot program of tree

maintenance. The three communities approved for the

program are York (pop. 7,940), Gretna (pop. 2,249),

and Gothenburg (pop. 3,347). Each community agreed

to a matching grant up to $10,000. The trimming had

to follow trimming methods from the ANSI A300 standards.

The community forestry staff took before and after

photos to record the immediate benefits of the trimming.

Gretna used its funds to clean up trees in a community

park. Gothenburg and York trimmed street trees for

visibility, safety, and vehicular clearance. The program

was so well received in York that the Public Works

Department continued trimming past their matching

cost for the grant. The pilot will run again in 2003 with

a few changes. Communities receiving the grants must

have populations of less then 2,000 and must use a

certified arborist to do the trimming.

Utility Training for Directional Pruning

In the past, power companies have used trimming

techniques on trees near power lines that required

topping the tree or rounding it over, if not completely

removing it. Research and studies have shown that

this technique has a negative effect on tree health and

vigor. It also leaves communities with disease, insect,

and rot problems. At the same time, allowing power

companies to practice these outdated pruning techniques

gives homeowners and others the improper idea of how

to prune a tree. The Nebraska Forest Service is redoubling

efforts to provide directional pruning workshops to the

utility companies in Nebraska. This full-day workshop

consists of three morning talks (tree anatomy, general

pruning, and directional pruning) and afternoon

hands-on directional pruning in the outdoors. The

workshop enables the Nebraska Forest Service to reach

an industry that touches many trees and enables the

power companies to fulfill their requirements for a

safety/education class.

Tree City USA 2002 

During FY 2002, the Tree City USA Awards program

in Nebraska was expanded. In the past, the celebration

consisted of a 2- to 3-hour program during which the

community representatives meet at the State Capitol

in Lincoln, get their picture taken with the Governor,

receive their awards, and return to their communities.

In April 2002, the Nebraska Forest Service provided a

day-long event to recognize the 110 communities that

achieved Tree City USA status.

Nebraska Community Forestry grant programs remained

strong in FY 2002. A total of 82 projects were completed

for a total of $537,000 and 6,159 trees and shrubs

planted. The total cost of all projects was $963,000.

These projects included tree removal, tree planting,

tree improvement, and scholarships for tree activists

to attend educational meetings and seminars.

Contact

David Mooter

State Coordinator

Nebraska Forest Service

8015 West Center Road

Omaha, NE 68124

402-444-7804 (phone)

402-444-6430 (fax)

e-mail: dmooter2@unl.edu

Nebraska 

Gothenburg Pruning.
13

Program Overview

The purpose of the U&CF Program is to help State

forestry agencies help local tribal governments and

the private sector improve the management of trees

and forests in urban areas and community settings.

Goals

Provide a "Strategic Plan for South Dakota Urban

Forestry Assistance" that clearly outlines the goals of

this program.

Provide an aggressive challenge grant and subgrant

program for local groups and agencies to implement

projects outlined in the strategic plan.

Develop and implement an aggressive public 

information campaign to address the need for urban

forestry programs in our communities.

Strengthen the Tree City USA program in South

Dakota by doubling the number of designated 

communities by FY 2007.

Complete street tree inventories for at least 10 percent

of the communities in South Dakota by FY 2005.

Maintain an accurate Big Tree Register for South

Dakota within national guidelines and standards.

Program Accomplishments

Sinai Re-Greening Project

This project is helping establish a community forest

for the storm-ravaged community of Sinai, SD.

Robbinsdale Park Tree Planting

This project will incorporate natural vegetation and

Ponderosa pine trees along a walking path in

Robbinsdale Park, Rapid City, SD.

City of Baltic Northeast Park

The city of Baltic is in the process of establishing a

new city park.

South Dakota Community

Forest Inventory Project

The South Dakota State Forestry division has developed a

system for providing an Internet community forest

inventory system capable of providing a standardized,

user-friendly community forest inventory.

The Resource Conservation and Forestry Division is

inventorying nine communities. The results of these

inventories will help identify the condition of urban

forests throughout South Dakota.

South Dakota Mini-Arboretum Project

When this arboretum project is completed, the arboretums

will give the public a look at which tree species grow

in various parts of South Dakota, what size they can

attain, and what they look like. 

Mini-Arboretum projects have been started in Kadoka,

SD, and at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD.

The mini-arboretum in Pierre, SD, will be installing

new signage, and the Aberdeen arboretum will add

more species of trees. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of communities assisted: 66

Percentage of all communities: 21

Number of technical assists to communities: 105

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,737

Number of Tree City USA communities: 30

Contact

Mike Daluz

Director, State and Private Forestry

Rocky Mountain Region

Golden, CO 80401

303–275–5736 (phone)

South Dakota
14

Program Overview

The Wyoming State Forestry Division’s U&CF Program

is a multifaceted program composed of tree-planting

and educational grants, the Tree City USA program,

conservation education, technical assistance through

workshops and onsite visits, arborist certification, and

community Arbor Day celebrations. The program focuses

on the State’s 98 incorporated communities. More

than 70 percent of Wyoming residents live in these

communities. A quarterly newsletter with a circulation

of 1,300 is distributed to community elected offices,

tree boards, and the general public. This 12-page

newsletter has been an effective tool for disseminating

timely community forestry management and technical

information.

Wyoming Community Forestry Council

The Wyoming Community Forestry Council (WCFC)

advises the State forester on program direction for the

U&CF Program in Wyoming. The State forester appoints

the 12-member committee, which represents a broad

segment of urban forestry interests from community

officials to representatives of conservation and business

organizations. The WCFC reviews tree-planting and

community forestry education grant applications and

awards approximately $50,000 in cost-share grants

annually to more than 25 communities. A representative

of the council serves on the State Forest Advisory

Committee and council members assist with the

annual State Capital Arbor Day Celebration.

Volunteer Program

The Wyoming Tree City USA Certification Program

serves as a basis for volunteer efforts in developing or

improving long-term, successful urban forestry programs.

During FY 2002, 32 cities and towns were certified 

as Tree City USA communities, which represents

approximately one-third of the State’s incorporated

municipalities. Their total expeditures on managing

their community forests was more than $1.7 million.

The average per capita expenditure on urban forestry

programs in these communities is $6.10. More than

150 volunteers serve on local tree boards in these

communities. The State Forestry Division and WCFC

provide direction and training for the citizen volunteers.

In FY 2002, several tree board members attended local

and regional community forestry conferences as well

as the National Tree City USA Conference. A statewide

tree board conference has been well attended in the

past and will once again take place in FY 2003.

The Community Forestry Grant Program requires the

involvement of volunteers in all funded projects. Since

the beginning of the grant program in 1991, 7,264

volunteers have contributed 30,310 hours of their time,

resulting in the planting of 18,790 trees on public

property. The Education and Program Development

grants have provided outreach to thousands of citizens

through tree-care workshops, local brochures on tree

selection and care, interpretive signage for arboretums,

and tree inventories and management plans.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 62

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 49

Number of hours of training provided: 1,025

Number of days of volunteer assistance generated: 802

Number of trees planted (with grants): 876

Contacts

Mark Hughes

Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator 

State Forestry Division

1100 W 22nd St.

Cheyenne, WY 82002

307–777–7586 (phone)

307–777–5986 (fax)

e-mail: mhughe@state.wy.us

Wyoming
15

Professional staffs within the New Mexico and Arizona

State Forestry organizations deliver the Urban and

Community Forestry (U&CF) Program to a combined

population of more than 6.9 million people in 929

communities across the two States. State program

coordinators and volunteer coordinators cooperate

closely with nonprofit organizations, State tree councils,

utility companies, volunteers, and other partners to

carry out locally developed State U&CF plans, which

seek to create sustained U&CF programs within each

community. In fiscal year (FY) 2002, 152 communities

in the Southwestern Region were actively participating

in the U&CF Program.

Together, Arizona and New Mexico received nearly

$620,000 in Federal U&CF funding in FY 2002, which

they matched with more than $1,053,000 in funding

and leveraged support.

Devastating wildfires dominated the landscape of

Arizona and New Mexico during FY 2002, affecting the

management situation and delivery of all Cooperative

Forestry (CF) programs as the fires burned forests and

homes across hundreds of square miles. These events

sparked new responses to wildfire issues, including

the formation from within the Arizona Community

Tree Council of a new nonprofit group, Trees for the

Rim, which directly provides emergency recovery

assistance to private homeowners within fire-affected

communities. To date, Trees for the Rim has secured

more than $275,000 in private donations to support

this work. Funding supplies materials and training for

private land watershed recovery within communities,

training in defensible space, firewise landscaping, and

the use of plant materials to mitigate fire losses.

U&CF staffs in both States have been leaders in public

education efforts responding to the massive bark beetle

outbreaks that are currently devastating both urban

and wildland forest landscapes.

More traditional U&CF issues related to street and

city trees continue to receive attention in both States.

New Mexico launched its Albuquerque Tree Initiative,

a nonprofit effort for assisting the State’s largest city

with meeting tree replacement needs. The Think Trees

group in New Mexico continues to provide arborist

and tree care education to the State’s green industry

in an annual conference that reaches more than 250

participants.

The Arizona Community Tree Council’s annual 

conference brought together some 150 arborists and

tree care workers for training, as did the annual arborist

certification, electrical safety, and tree worker education

workshops, which are conducted in Spanish and

English. The council sponsors bimonthly educational

workshops, providing important continuing education

opportunities for the green industry statewide.

Both States provide financial and/or technical support

directly to communities and nonprofit groups to develop

local U&CF programs and activities.

Region 3

Southwestern Region
16

Program Overview

The State of Arizona’s U&CF Program is administered

by the Natural Resources Division of the Arizona State

Land Department, where it is delivered by a program

coordinator and a volunteer coordinator in association

with other department personnel and a statewide network

of affiliated partners and volunteers. It serves some

418 communities in Arizona, which has a rapidly

growing population, now exceeding 5.2 million people,

in a large, geographically, ethnically, and botanically

diverse State. 

Program Accomplishments 

Basics in arboriculture classes are offered six times per

year throughout Arizona. The classes prepare students

to become ISA Certified Arborists and Tree Workers.

Since 1992 this effort has helped increase the number

of certified arborists working in Arizona from 19 to 312.

Recognizing the need for training in both Spanish and

English, the U&CF Program offers these workshops in

both languages. 

Annually, the Governor issues an Arbor Day proclamation,

which is used to kick off a program of education and

community outreach featuring an Arbor Day poster

contest for fifth-graders statewide. Winners are 

recognized in an Arbor Day ceremony at the State

Capitol.

The Arizona Community Tree Council 

The Arizona Community Tree Council, organized as a

nonprofit group, advises the State Land Commissioner

on U&CF issues, provides considerable technical and

logistical support to the program, and sponsors an

annual conference introducing new urban forestry

techniques. The council also conducts seven workshops

per year, covering subjects such as tree appraisal, tree

hazards, tree climbing, and related topics. These

workshops attract 1,200–1,500 people annually. The

Land Department, council, and utility company partners

also sponsor an annual electrical line safety workshop

for tree workers, featuring presentations in English

and Spanish. 

Volunteer Program

Program goals, developed by the Tree Council, Land

Department staff, and associates, and adopted in

Arizona’s U&CF plan, emphasize encouraging volunteerism,

recognizing urban forest resources as a vital part of

community infrastructure, and providing high-quality

care to those resources. In FY 2002, the staff and

council recognized the importance of tree management

in the community interface with the State’s natural

forests. Following the devastating fires in June and

July, the council formed a new nonprofit group, Trees

for the Rim, which, in partnership with Safeway Corp.,

will assist with reforestation and restoration in private

acreages within the fire area. By the end of FY 2002,

$275,000 had been raised to assist with this effort. The

long-range plan foresees using the private donations

to leverage grant funding to expand and continue

these efforts for at least 5 years.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 79

Number of technical assists to communities 176

Number of training hours provided: 6,380

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,100

Number of Tree City USA communities: 14

Contacts

Ron Romatzke,

Arizona U&CF Coordinator

Arizona State Land Department

1616 W. Adams

Phoenix, AZ 85007

(602) 542-2518 (phone)

(602) 542-2590 (fax)

e-mail: rromatzk@lnd.state.az.us

Louise Wakem

Volunteer Coordinator

Arizona State Land Department

1616 W. Adams

Phoenix, AZ 85007

(602) 542-6191 (phone)

(602) 542-2590 (fax)

e-mail: lwakem@lnd.state.az.us

R-3-Arizona. Trees for the Rim.

R-3-Arizona.

Arizona
17

Program Overview

The State of New Mexico’s U&CF Program is administered by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural

Resources Department, Forestry Division, where it is

delivered by a program coordinator and a contract 

volunteer coordinator in association with other

department personnel and a statewide network of

affiliated partners and volunteers. The New Mexico

Urban Forest Council advises the State forester on

U&CF issues. The program is available to a State 

population of 1.8 million people in 511 communities.

Program goals and objectives are contained in a 

5-year plan, which was revised in early FY 2002.

Program Accomplishments

Recovery of urban forest landscapes following the recent

extraordinary fire season continues to be a strong

focus of the U&CF Program. Likewise, the program’s

work with public fire education and hazard reduction

through the Backyard Tree Farm and Twenty

Communities efforts keeps U&CF actively engaged in

rural and urban areas. As part of the National Fire

Plan and other programs, defensible space projects in

11 communities were granted $2.4 million, assisting

341 landowners in treating 1,296 acres. The Forestry

Division Web site includes information about community fire prevention programs. 

In cooperation with the International Society of

Arboriculture (ISA), the New Mexico Association of

Nursery Industries, and the nonprofit group Think

Trees (http://www.thinktrees.org), the U&CF Program

coordinator helps produce an annual Think Trees

conference, showcasing the best in tree care training

and techniques. Other U&CF Program highlights include

an annual statewide Fifth Grade Arbor Day Essay

Contest, the Governor’s Arbor Month Proclamation,

and the Tucumcari/Clovis Regional Tree Care

Conference, hosted by the community Tree Boards.

Volunteer Program

New Mexico’s contract Volunteer Coordinator; Tree

New Mexico Inc., (TNM) has served the program for 

12 years. TNM has a volunteer base of 1,700 and

maintains contacts with some 2,800 interested citizens,

students, and businesses. During FY 2002, TNM

worked with agency staff, volunteers, training-session

participants, and students to plant more than 66,000

trees in 120 separate plantings. TNM also provided

classroom training to nearly 1,786 students at 10 New

Mexico schools. The TNM newsletter Tree Press and

its River Rescue Citizen Acton Guide and River Rescue

Program Guide all complement the U&CF Program

and help it reach new people. As a founder of the

recent Albuquerque Tree Initiative and operator of a

National Tree Trust Regional Grow-out facility, TNM

enhances the U&CF Program beyond its contractual

volunteer coordination duties.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 73

Number of technical assists to communities: 51

Number of training hours provided: 3,057

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 4,844

Number of Tree City USA communities: 8

Contacts

George Duda

New Mexico U&CF Coordinator

ENMRD—State Forestry

P.O. Box 1948

Santa Fe, NM 87504

(505) 476-3332 (phone)

(505) 476-3330 (fax)

e-mail: gduda@state.nm.us

http://www.nmforestry.com 

Suzanne Probart

Volunteer Coordinator

Tree New Mexico

P.O. Box 81827

Albuquerque, NM 87198

(505) 265-4554 (phone)

(505) 255-9197 (fax)

e-mail: tnm@treenm.com

http://www.treenm.com/

R-3. Youth in Albuquerque Tree Initiative Kickoff event.

R-3. Albuquerque Tree Initiative Kickoff.

New Mexico 
18

The State and Private Forestry Urban and Community

Forestry (U&CF) Program provides technical and

financial assistance to State partners. The Pacific

Southwest Region includes eight State forestry agencies:

• American Samoa

• California

• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—

Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

• Federated States of Micronesia—Chuuk, Kosrae, 

Pohnpei, and Yap

• Guam

• Hawaii

• Republic of the Marshall Islands

• Republic of Palau

Each of these partner agencies actively administers

ongoing U&CF programs within their respective 

government’s forestry organizations.

Each State U&CF coordinator has established 

relationships with local nonprofit organizations and

other community groups to build capacity and sustain

ongoing urban forestry efforts, particularly in awareness

and volunteer coordination.

Another key component of the Region 5 U&CF

Program is the Center For Urban Forest Research,

which is located on the campus of the University of

California, Davis. The center provides technical 

assistance to all 17 Western States that make up the

Western Forestry Leadership Coalition. 

Statistical Highlights 

Number of participating communities: 1,033

Number of technical assists to communities: 995

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 16,181

Region 5

Pacific Southwest Region
19

Program Overview

The U&CF Program in American Samoa is the largest

cooperative forestry effort in terms of dollars expended

and level of public participation. Federal funding in

fiscal year (FY) 2002 was $150,000, which was used

to facilitate maintenance of the coordinator’s position,

activities of the Territorial Urban and Community

Forestry Advisory Council, volunteer coordination, and

continued work toward accomplishing the goals and

objectives outlined in the 5-year strategic plan. The

American Samoa U&CF (ASUCF) Program has developed

a monthly television program that focuses on current

environmental issues such as population pressure on

lowland rainforests, invasive species, mangrove filling,

coastal zone erosion, recycling, and Adopt-A-Watershed

curriculum in the local schools. The ASUCF Program

continues to work with Tausagi, an intergovernmental

agency group that administers environmental education.

Much of the education is conducted in local schools,

and 35 teachers have been trained. 

U&CF has been working with the American Samoa

National Park and the Office of Preservation on various

projects over the years. Current projects include a

revitalization and revegetation effort at Blunts Point

Battery, a local landmark. Blunts Point is made up 

of four 6-inch naval guns that were positioned during

World War II to defend the entrance to Pago Pago. The

battery was built in 1941 and occupied by the U.S.

Navy until 1951. Currently, the U&CF Program is

funding an internship for this project. The intern and

forestry crew have mapped the entire area, using

Global Positioning System and Geographic Information

System technology. The map will be used to create a

poster depicting what the site was like originally and

what it looks like now. The project will also include

replanting native species and incorporating interpretive

signage.

Arbor week is an annual event in American Samoa.

The FY 2002 theme, Appreciate Forest Values, focused

on studying the forest. At 15 schools more than 300

students planted trees. The local television station

and newspapers attended and premiered the day over

the next week. 

The U&CF Council

American Samoa maintains a 20-member U&CF

Advisory Council made up of members from public

and private entities from both the Manu’a Islands and

Tutuila. 

Volunteer Program

U&CF works with local volunteer groups such as

Tausagi, a local community-based organization;

Americorps; Cub Scouts; Women’s Small Business

Center; and the Department of Education.

Statistical Highlights

Total number of communities: 52

Number of participating communities: 34

Number of technical assists to communities: 34

Number of training hours provided: 80

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,040

Number of trees planted: 5,000

Contacts

Malala Misa (Mike)

U&CF Coordinator 

American Samoa Community College

Community and Natural Resources 

P.O. Box 5319

Pago Pago, AS 96799 

684–699–1394/1575 (phone)

684–699–4595 (fax) 

e-mail: malaetia@yahoo.com

Sheri Mann

Forestry Program Manager and Territorial Forester 

(same as above)

e-mail: ssuemann@yahoo.com

American Samoa
20

Program Overview 

California continues to expand annually, with small

communities developing at a rapid pace, especially in

the Central Valley region.

Federal funding for the California U&CF Program was

$900,000. This amount included $200,000 for innercity grants for the inner-city program, which California

ReLeaf is handling as pass-through grants. California

ReLeaf also helps with distributing Federal tree planting

and outreach grants, both of which support California’s

volunteer and outreach component.

Established U&CF regional councils continue to be of

great value in presenting information from the

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

(CDF) Urban Forestry Program to interested community

leadership, professionals, and the general public. They

also provide feedback to CDF for help in designing

State-funded and federally funded urban forest programs.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Urban Forestry Ecosystems

Institute is maintaining Urban Forestry Academies

and the Urban Forestry Web site, both in partnership

with CDF.

Title VIII grant funding is under contract and is currently

in progress. This project provides vegetation analysis

in regional areas using high-resolution satellite

imagery and American Forest's "CITY green" urban

forestry analysis model. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s

Urban Forestry Ecosystems Institute maintains this

program. Benefits from the information will be used

for technical assistance, creation of public policy,

communication, and training for upgrading urban

forests in Central and Southern California. 

The U&CF Council

The California Community Forestry Advisory Committee

continues to help guide CDF in decisionmaking that

affects urban forestry in the State. This committee

comprises several CDF Urban Forestry specialists, a

broad section of urban forestry professionals in the

State, and representatives from each of the State’s

regional urban forestry councils.

Volunteer Program

Volunteer coordination for the State of California is

administered via contract with the Trust for Public

Lands, California ReLeaf organization. This organization

administers subgrant programs throughout the State

for tree planting and capacity building. The California

Releaf director is also a member of the statewide

U&CF Advisory Committee. In 2003, California ReLeaf

will receive sponsorship from the National Tree Trust.

Statistical Highlights

Total number of communities: 858

Number of participating communities: 719

Number of sustained communities: 285

Number of technical assists to communities: 650

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 6,000

Number of Tree City USA communities: 131

Number of trees planted with funds available, 7-01 to

6-02: 50,814

Contacts

Herb Bunt

U&CF Coordinator

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

1419 Ninth Street (PO Box 944246)

Sacramento, CA 94244-2460

916–651–6423 (phone)

916–653–8957 (fax)

e-mail: herb_bunt@fire.ca.gov

California 
21

Program Overview

The U&FC Program in the Federated States of Micronesia

(FSM) includes projects in the states of Chuuk, Kosrae,

Pohnpei, and Yap. Federal funding provides support

for maintaining the coordinator’s position, activities of

the U&CF Advisory Council, volunteer coordination,

and continued work toward accomplishing the goals and

objectives outlined in each State’s 5-year strategic plan.

Major coastal erosion control measures of planting

mangrove trees are a major focus for each of the islands,

because erosion is a constant threat to sustainability.

Ongoing training and awareness campaigns are also 

a major component of all the Federated States since

they are experiencing increased development and road

building, which are real threats to the islands. Invasive

species assessment and suppression continue to be

priorities for all the Federated States.

The U&CF Council

Each of the Federated States of Micronesia maintains

an U&CF Advisory Council, with each state providing

representation for the overall FSM U&CF strategy. This

type of organization ensures equity distributing funds

and technical assistance and also ensures that emerging

priorities are addressed as quickly as possible.

Volunteer Program

Volunteer coordination is primarily the responsibility

of the U&CF coordinators located in each state. Most

coordinators receive adequate volunteer assistance

from advisory council members and other island 

volunteers, schools, and community organizers. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 134

Number of technical assists to communities: 18

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 7,193

Contacts

Ismael Lebehn

Administrative National Contact

Director of Agriculture

P.O. Box P-12, Palikir Station

Pohnpei, FSM 96941 

691–320–2646 (phone) 

691–320–5854 (fax) 

e-mail:fsmagri@mail.fm

John Sound

U&CF Coordinator, CHUUK

Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 189

Weno, Chuuk, FSM, 96942

691–330–3720 (phone)

691–330–2233 (fax) 

e-mail: USPC chuukquart@mail.fm

Robert Jackson

U&CF Coordinator, KOSRAE

Kosrae Island Resource Management Program

Development Review Commission

P.O. Box DRC

Kosrae, FSM, 96944

691–370–2076 (phone)

691–370–2867 (fax)

e-mail: kosraeforestry@mail.fm

Saimon Lihpai

U&CF Coordinator, POHNPEI

Forestry & Marine Conservation, Land and Natural

Resources

P.O. Box 1028

Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM, 96941

691–320–7457 (phone)

691–320–6386 (fax) 

e-mail: pniforestry@mail.fm

Victoria Laetman

U&CF Coordinator, YAP

Forestry Section, Division of Agriculture

P.O. Box 463

Yap, FSM, 96943

691–350–2183 (phone)

691–350–4693 (phone)

e-mail: DAF@mail.fm

Federated States of Micronesia: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
22

Program Overview

The U&CF Program in Guam continues to evolve. Federal

funding over the last 3 years has consistently provided

$175,000 annually, which facilitates maintenance of

the coordinator’s position, activities of the U&CF

Advisory Council, volunteer coordination, and continued

work toward accomplishing the goals and objectives

outlined in our 5-year strategic plan. 

The U&CF Council

The Guam U&CF Advisory Council is composed of 

35 members from throughout the island and includes

representatives from public and private organizations

and the office of the Governor. 

Late in FY 2002, Guam experienced severe storm

damage from two major typhoons. Tree maintenance

and replanting will be the focus of the U&CF Program

in FY 2003.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 20

Number of technical assists to communities: 16

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 100

Number of Tree City USA communities: 1

Contacts

Joe Acfalle

U&CF Coordinator

Guam Forestry Soil and Resources Division

Dept. of Agriculture

192 Dairy Road

Mangilao, GU 96923

671–735–3950 (phone) 

671–734–0111 (fax) 

e-mail: jacfalle@mail.gov.gu

David Limtiaco

Territorial Forester 

Guam Forestry Soil and Resources Division

Dept. of Agriculture

192 Dairy Road

Mangilao, GU 96923

671–735–3950 (phone) 

671–734–0111 (fax) 

e-mail: dlimti@mail.gov.gu

Guam
23

Program Overview

Kaulunani had a productive year. In the U&CF Program,

28 cost-share grants were awarded for the following

community-based projects: nine tree-planting projects,

seven education and outreach projects, three workshops,

one conference, an urban forestry awards program,

six Arbor Day grants, and three Schools Make a

Difference grants. In addition to the traditional grant

program, the four Title VIII grants are nearly complete.

Program Accomplishments

Assessment

Kaulunani completed a 10-year assessment of the

program. Its purpose was to provide the council with

a wide range of information regarding previous 

tree-planting projects. 

The assessment results provided information that led

to the planning of a 1.5-day retreat to rethink, not

only the services provided to the community but also

the manner in which they are delivered.

Arbor Day

The Arbor Day activities expanded with new sites and

activities, providing communities more opportunities

for involvement. 

School Grants

A new grant program, Schools Make a Difference, was

created to provide forestry education in schools. The

program brings landscape architects, Kaulunani, and

certified arborists together to plan and implement a

successful tree-planting project on campuses throughout

the State. Most of its success is due to a unique 

partnership with the American Society of Landscape

Architects–—Hawaii Chapter. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities (four incorporated

counties): 123

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 48

Number of training hours provided: 2,581

Number of days of volunteers assistance: 1,268

Number of trees planted: 3,424

Number of Tree City USA communities: 3

Contacts

Tresa Trueman-Madriaga

U&CF Coordinator

Division of Forestry and Wildlife

1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325

Honolulu, HI 96813

808–672–3383 (phone)

808–672–6323 (fax) 

e-mail: ttm@hawaii.rr.com

Hawaii
24

Program Overview

The U&CF Program in the Mariana Islands continues

to grow every year. Federal funding in FY 2002 was

$129,955, which facilitates maintenance of the 

coordinator’s position and cofunds the nursery manager’s

salary for 1 year. The Advisory Council, made up of

various entities, also reviews and takes part in the U&CF

Program. The Advisory Council and its coordinators

continue to work toward accomplishing the goals and

objectives outlined in the 5-year strategic plan. 

The U&CF Council

The Island of Saipan maintains an U&CF Advisory

Council with 14 members composed of public and 

private sectors. The Island of Tinian maintains a 

nine-member panel and the Island of Rota maintains

a 14-member panel.

Island of Saipan

• The Forestry Section donated 2,584 trees to 

communities, schools, and groups for park and 

roadside beautification. During the same planting 

activities, the U&CF members and the Department 

of Lands and Natural Resources/Division of 

Agriculture staff provided presentations, 

demonstrations, and technical assistance. These 

technology transfers were conducted during plant 

issuance and pickup from the forestry nursery 

• Private and public schools (Koblerville Elementary 

School, Whispering Palm, Kagman High School, and

Oleai Elementary) asked the Forestry Section to 

present proper planting and tree care, proper use of

fertilizer, and nutritional facts. A total of 500 students

participated in these presentations. The presenters 

were Mr. Stan Villagomez, Mr. Vic Guerrero, Mr. Ben

Borja, Mr. Manny Pangelinan, and Mr. Ben Cepeda.

• Congressman William Torres continues to spearhead

the Gualo Rai Roadside Beautification and the 

Youth Center Beautification/reforestation projects. 

A total of 800 plants worth $3,000 were purchased 

and distributed to these projects. 

Island of Tinian

• Tinian Urban Forestry Staff facilitated and monitored

the planting along the Broadway Roadsides. This 

project will continue to be upgraded and improved 

using natural resources (cultural and ornamental 

trees) as buffers and as roadside beautification. 

School students volunteered during planting activities.

• Tinian Urban Forestry Staff continued to facilitate 

and monitor the planting activities at the Suicide 

Cliff Historic Park.

• The local government donated to and supported the

forestry program by maintaining various planting 

projects throughout the funded year. They 

donated their equipment's fuel and operators as 

matching costs throughout the year.

• The Boy Scouts of America planted 20 flame trees 

(Delonix regia) around the Tinian Community Center.

This group is one of many youth groups participating

in various beautification projects every year. 

Island of Rota

• Rota public and private schools participated in 

planting activities (Arbor Month). The schools 

planned for each project, with the students and 

teachers participating in beautifying their areas. 

Approximately 875 seedlings of 37 varieties were 

planted during Arbor Month.

• The Shoreline Beautification Project was coordinated

between the Filipino Association and the Forestry 

Department. This project included procurement 

and planting of seedlings to beautify adopted areas 

and to stabilize sandy soils. During several weekend

planting events, members of the association planted

approximately 200 seedlings.

Statistical Highlights

Total number of communities: 39

Number of participating communities: 39

Number of sustained communities: 12

Number of technical assists to communities: 17

Number of assistance in developmental: 7

Number of technical assists in formative: 3

Number of training hours provided: 500

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 150

Number of trees planted: 17,000

Contacts

Victor Deleon-Guerrero

U&CF Coordinator–—Saipan

CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources

Division of Agriculture, Forestry

P.O. Box 10007

Lower Base, Saipan MP 96950

670–256–3318/19 (phone) 

670–256–7154 (fax)

e-mail: victordlg@gtepacifica.net

Lenny Diaz

U&CF Coordinator

Tinian

CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources

Division of Agriculture, Forestry

P.O. Box 95 

Tinian MP 96952

670–433–9298 (phone)

670–433–3152/2626 (fax)

e-mail: diaz_6_2000@hotmail.com

James Manglona

U&CF Coordinator–—Rota

CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources

Division of Agriculture, Forestry

P.O. Box 563 

Rota MP 96951

670–532–9494/95 (phone)

670–532–0520 (fax)

e-mail: mangrota@vzpacifica.net

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
25

Program Overview

The U&CF Program in Palau has expanded and matured

over the past few years. Public participation has

increased, with many partners contributing valuable

technical and financial resources. Federal funding

facilitates the maintenance of the coordinator position,

activities of the U&CF Advisory Council, volunteer

coordination, and continued work toward accomplishing

the goals and objectives outlined in our 5-year strategic

plan, which was updated in FY 2002. 

The U&CF Council

Palau’s U&CF Advisory Council is composed of 12

members from a wide range of organizations. The council

has been instrumental in establishing a sustainable

U&CF Program and steering projects and priorities

toward accomplishment of the 5-year strategic plan.

Volunteer Program

Pua Michael, the Palau U&CF volunteer coordinator,

coordinates with project managers to get volunteers to

work on projects. She also helps the U&CF coordinator

monitor ongoing U&CF projects, keeps accounting of

files for U&CF projects, and contacts project managers

for submission of quarterly reports. In addition, she

helps write reports and publicize U&CF programs to

different states in Palau, legislators, and other 

organizations.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 9

Number of technical assists to communities: 11

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 440

Contacts

Marcello Brel

Chief Forester

Division of Agriculture & Mineral Resources

P.O. Box 460

Koror, Republic of Palau 96940

680–488–2504 (phone) 

680–488–1475/1725 (fax) 

e-mail: DAMR@palaunet.com

Republic of Palau
26

Program Overview

The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program

in the Pacific Northwest Region provides technical,

financial, and educational assistance to a variety of

partners, including State, county, municipal, and 

tribal governments, as well as nonprofits, universities,

public schools, and individuals. Oregon and

Washington State comprise the region, which includes

25 million acres of National Forest System lands. The

USDA Forest Service regional staff is one half-time

position. The Oregon Department of Forestry and

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

deliver U&CF programs funded by the USDA Forest

Service, which include technical assistance, Arbor Day

celebrations, community grants, the Tree City USA

program, and educational opportunities. The USDA

Forest Service-funded community grants offered by both

States are highly competitive, and the available funding

is much less than the need. Technical assistance 

provided by the State urban forestry staff is critical for

inner cities, small communities, nonprofits, and other

partners. Emphasis for the program is on building

local capacity.

The U&CF Program is linked to many of the critical

issues in the Pacific Northwest, such as salmon recovery;

livable cities, communities, and neighborhoods; clean

air and water; and economic recovery. Trees are part

of the economic development strategies for beautifying

downtowns and creating business districts where 

people will linger and shop. Dr. Kathleen Wolf at the

University of Washington has found that in Seattle,

and in large cities in other States, survey participants

are willing to pay 11 percent more for products in

landscaped business districts vs. those with no trees.

The USDA Forest Service funded this research

through the National Urban and Community Forestry

Advisory Council. 

More than 62 percent of the cities and communities in

Oregon and Washington are participating in the U&CF

Program, and the program has generated more than

18,000 hours of volunteer time. Friends of Trees, an

award-winning nonprofit organization, has planted

more than 230,000 trees in the five-county Portland,

OR, metro area (which includes Washington State).

The organization trains volunteers who then help

additional people understand the values and benefits

of trees and greenspaces. 

Program Accomplishments

In 1996, Oregon and Washington started the Community

Trees Conference, and in fiscal year (FY) 2002 the

sixth conference was held in Idaho, coordinated by the

Oregon Urban Forester. The conference is a joint effort

among Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and the

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and is

supported by the USDA Forest Service. Held every 2

years, the Community Trees Conference brings speakers

and participants from beyond the above-named States,

and is aimed at professionals and citizens with an

interest in community trees and forests. In FY 2002,

Oregon and Washington, with support from the USDA

Forest Service, partnered with ISA to present the Tree

Academy, a series of classes for arborists at the ISA

Conference in Seattle. Oregon, Washington, and the

USDA Forest Service worked across State and 

bureaucratic lines to produce three information

brochures about U&CF in general and how to access

the program in each State. Matching folders were 

created to hold materials for sending out in response

to requests and at conferences.

Region 6

Pacific Northwest Region
27

Program Overview

The mission of the Oregon Department of Forestry

(ODF) Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF)

Assistance Program is to help Oregonians improve

their quality of life by promoting community investment

in urban forests. Primary U&CF issues in Oregon are

growth management, urban-rural interface challenges,

the need to develop comprehensive community

forestry programs in smaller communities, and the

constraints caused by limited municipal funding for

city and community services. Funding for the ODF

U&CF Assistance Program is from the USDA Forest

Service. A staff of three professional urban foresters

provides leadership and assistance to Oregon cities,

communities, and organizations. 

Program Accomplishments

• ODF’s staff assisted builder Kevin Rea and the 

Village Wiestoria project, a 42-unit, mixed-use, 

residential development near Bend, OR. ODF 

helped Rea retain large trees on the site, and then 

used the site to develop an 11-minute educational 

video to show builders and developers how their 

investment can be enhanced through trees. Rea 

won an excellence award from the National Arbor 

Day Foundation and the National Association of 

Homebuilders for his efforts.

• Friends of Trees, an award-winning, nonprofit, 

tree-planting organization in the Portland metro 

area, used ODF/USDA Forest Service grant funds 

to develop a youth tree corps program to provide 

summer jobs in urban forestry for at-risk youth.

• ODF hosted a meeting of the National Urban and 

Community Forestry Advisory Council in Portland. 

A tour was provided to highlight inner-city projects 

in northeast Portland, urbanization and growth 

management issues in Wilsonville, and small 

community challenges in McMinnville.

The U&CF Council

The State’s U&CF Advisory Council is Oregon Community

Trees (OCT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a

board of directors encompassing municipal, volunteer,

community, and business interests. This year, OCT

hosted its annual urban forestry conference attended

by 100 people, conducted an annual awards program,

maintained a Web site (http://www.oregoncommunitytrees.org), and promoted urban forestry events and

activities.

Volunteer Program

In Oregon, 5 nonprofit volunteer tree-planting groups

and 39 volunteer tree boards and commissions receive

technical, financial, and educational assistance and

organizational development advice from the ODF staff. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 147 

Number of technical assists to communities: 518

Number of training hours provided: 3,938

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 600 

Number of trees planted (estimated): 40,000

(Estimated from 37 Tree City USA communities only;

does not include nonprofit sector, transportation

agencies, utilities, etc.)

Contact

Paul D. Ries

U&CF Program Manager

Oregon Department of Forestry

2600 State Street, 

Salem, OR 97310

503–945–7391 (phone)

503–945–7376 (fax)

e-mail: pries@odf.state.or.us

Oregon
28

Program Overview

The Washington U&CF Program mission is to educate

citizens and decisionmakers about the economic, 

environmental, psychological, and aesthetic benefits of

trees. The mission includes helping local governments,

citizen groups, and volunteers plant and sustain

healthy trees where people live and work in Washington.

The primary community forestry issues are local 

government impacts from the Endangered Species Act,

urban-rural interface challenges, the need to develop

comprehensive community forestry programs, growth

management, and constraints caused by decreased

funding sources for municipal services. The U&CF

Program is part of the Washington State Department

of Natural Resources (WDNR). Two professional urban

foresters provide assistance to Washington communities

and organizations. In FY 2002, only one of those 

positions was filled. Funding for the U&CF Program 

is from the USDA Forest Service. 

Program Accomplishments

• WDNR initiated new, improved Arbor Day celebrations

in FY 2002. A grant from BP Northwest Operations 

funded a Web site for educational and celebration 

materials. The program partnered with corporate 

sponsors to host the first Arbor Day awards banquet.

The banquet honored 45 Tree City USA and 7 Tree 

Line USA recipients, as well as the State winner of 

the 5th grade Arbor Day Poster Contest.

• Fourteen communities, six nonprofits, and one 

university received WDNR community grants. 

Grants were awarded in the following four categories:

(1) local program development, (2) tree planting, 

(3) education, and (4) tree maintenance. Because 

community grants are highly competitive, three 

U&CF grant writing workshops were held around 

the State to help first-time grant applicants learn 

how to write grant applications. 

• University of Washington graduate students conducted

a study of Washington’s community forest. Upon 

completion, the three-phase study will provide a 

picture of the current state of Washington’s community

forest to help decisionmakers better manage urban 

trees and forests. 

• To meet increasing requests east of Washington’s 

Cascade Mountains, WDNR/USDA Forest Service 

funds were used to contract with the Spokane, WA,

urban forester to provide technical assistance in 

smaller, eastside communities, where local urban 

forestry expertise is not available. 

• The WDNR urban forestry staff partnered with the 

International Society of Arboriculture to host a Tree

Academy as part of its 78th Conference and Trade 

Show in Seattle. The Tree Academy brought together

arborists from around the world to learn about topics

such as Tree Structure Mechanics, Plant Health 

Care, Tree Decay, Tree Appraisal, and Tree Worker 

Health Care. 

The U&CF Council

The Washington Community Forestry Council advises

the WDNR regarding urban and community forestry

issues. The council includes members from a broad

spectrum of stakeholder groups, including municipal,

volunteer, community, and business interests. A key

project for the council is the development of a public

outreach and awareness campaign designed to educate

local decisionmakers on the importance of trees in our

cities and communities. 

Volunteer Program

Washington has 5 nonprofit volunteer tree-planting

and restoration groups, 2 tree advocacy groups, and

35 volunteer tree boards and commissions. The WDNR

staff provides technical, financial, and educational

assistance, as well as organizational development advice.

Statistical Information

Number of participating communities: 228

Number of technical assists to communities: 720

Number of training hours provided: 2,700

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,025 

Number of Tree City USA communities: 45 

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 10

Number of Tree Line USA utilities: 7

Contacts

Sarah Griffith

U&CF Program Manager

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 47037

Olympia, WA 98504 

360–902–1704 (phone)

360–902–1781 (fax)

e-mail: sarah.griffith@wadnr.gov

Ben Thompson

Community Assistance Forester

(same address as above) 

360–902–1703 (phone)

360–902–1781 (fax)

e-mail: ben.thompson@wadnr.gov

Washington
29

The following report highlights the accomplishment 

of the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community

Forestry (U&CF) Assistance Program, delivered in

partnership with the 13 State forestry agencies in 

the South.

Fiscal year (FY) 2002 was a very successful and 

challenging year. Federal funding, combined with State

and local matching funds, has resulted in an estimated

$17 million worth of activities directly related to 

the program, including approximately 400 grants to

communities and partner organizations. 

The U&CF Program in the South was delivered under

a set of guiding principles and with regionwide emphasis

areas. Developed by the USDA Forest Service and the

urban coordinators of the Southern Group of State

Foresters, these guiding principles include:

• Recognizing urban forests as valuable and 

essential resources that benefits all citizens. The 

increased urbanization of all Southern States is 

creating opportunities for urban forests to improve 

the economic, environmental, and social quality of 

life in towns and cities.

• Acknowledging State forestry agencies as essential 

to successful urban forestry programs. They possess

the unique and qualifying ability to deliver 

State-supported urban forestry program assistance.

This ability is deeply rooted within the success of 

each State agency’s traditional forestry program. 

State urban forestry programs are an extension of 

traditional forestry programs in that they promote 

the scientific and sustained management of our 

urban forests for human benefit.

• Assuring the urban forestry program provides equal 

access and equal opportunity for all segments of the 

population. 

• Addressing common emerging local and regional 

issues on a multi-State or regional basis. It is 

preferred that States cooperate and coordinate with 

other groups and organizations.

• Recognizing the unique urban forestry needs of 

each State and working with the State-Federal 

partnership. The combined resources of the USDA 

Forest Service and the 13 Southern States can 

develop new solutions to common problems and 

serve as models for State action. 

• Accepting the responsibility of using Federal fund

ing for U&CF. Federal funds should be used in the 

most cost-effective manner to achieve the goals of 

the State's strategic plan for urban forestry. 

The regional emphasis areas that have been guiding

the program direction include:

• Emerging Issues Related to Urban Land Use. Land 

use change is generally the result of urbanization 

into forest and agricultural land along the urban 

fringe or in the rural countryside. This urbanization

can result in changes in forest ownerships, 

fragmentation, challenges to forest management, 

changes to public values and perceptions, loss in 

forest cover, and subsequent changes to environmental

quality. Working through U&CF, communities have 

an opportunity to address growth management 

issues in the context of natural resources and 

through the employment of technology, such as 

remote sensing and computer-aided mapping. With

this technology, communities can better understand

how and why their natural systems are changing, and

how local public policy could guide land use change

and development in ecologically sustainable ways.

• Support of State Urban Forest Councils and 

Nonprofit Organizations. A community that owns its

urban forest takes care of its urban forest. 

Successes over the years have demonstrated the benefits

of having nonprofit organizations participating in U&CF

programs. These groups influence and deliver programs

at the local level, yet still need technical and program

information and assistance from State forestry agencies,

including support in building the capacities of their

organizations. State urban forest councils have been

providing a substantial base of support for State U&CF

programs, including their role in expanding program

delivery. Efforts to build state-wide, self-sufficient

capacity of nonprofit organizations and State urban

forest councils will result in the ultimate strengthening

of State U&CF programs. In FY 2002, Southern State

urban forestry council representatives established the

Southern Urban Forest Cooperative. They compiled a

detailed contact list and identified issues to address in

FY 2003.

• State U&CF Strategic Planning. State U&CF strategic

plans are valuable tools in delivering USDA Forest 

Service/State U&CF programs. These plans provide

statewide direction for the program, and engage the

public in a process, which increases awareness and

participation in U&CF. These plans also provide an 

opportunity for the States to monitor and measure 

program results. To be used as a valuable leadership

tool, these plans should be updated every 5 years 

and incorporated into routine program activities. 

Several of the Southern States have requested the 

U&CF staff to provide oversight to their strategic 

planning workshops.

• Financial Assistance through the U&CF Assistance 

Program. The U&CF Grant Program has been ongoing

for 11 years, a length of time that provides an 

opportunity to evaluate the program’s effectiveness 

in terms of program intent, the development of State

and local capacity, and the improvement of urban 

forest resources, management, awareness, etc. Part

of the evaluation should include program outreach,

participation by nontraditional populations, relevancy

and effectiveness of grants, and effectiveness of 

State delivery.

• Communicating Program Successes. U&CF is a 

successful State and USDA Forest Service program.

Communicating its accomplishments will help 

Region 8

Southern Region
30

improve public perception of forestry in general, 

and will help build continued support for U&CF at 

the local, State, and Federal levels.

• U&CF Technology and Training. The availability of 

tools, information and technology, and continuing 

education and training supports U&CF Program 

development at all levels. Web-based technology 

transfer provides immediate and interactive 

opportunities for technological support and distant 

learning. Many emerging opportunities are available

for expanded and cost-effective technology transfer 

and programs in U&CF, using Web-based technologies,

among others.

Regionwide, State, and Title VIII projects that are

being conducted and completed within these emphasis

areas are highlighted within this report. Some of the

regionwide activities include technology training for

the southern urban forestry coordinators and extension

foresters; the addition of a USDA Forest Service urban

forestry trainee; urban forestry technical assistance to

the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane

Lilli storm damage tree assessment; enhancement of

the Southern Region Urban Forestry Web site; ecosystem

modeling in Houston, using the Urban Forest Effect

Model (UFORE) analysis model; development of a living

memorial program in the aftermath of the September

11 attacks; and continuation of the American Forests

City Green projects.

Although the cost for emergency wildfire suppression

in the western regions delayed funding for regional

emphasis projects, the following projects were eventually

funded for completion by the end of FY 2004:

• Tree Cops: Making Trees Part of the Solution, Not 

the Problem (Virginia Community College System 

and Virginia Tech)

• The Southeastern Natural Resource Leadership 

Institute (University of Virginia)

• Making Our Urban Forests Safer for People: A 

Homeowners Guide (Alabama Cooperative 

Extension System)

• Research Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable 

Urban Forests (The Hammond Tree Foundation)

• Create a Statewide Green Infrastructure Network 

(The Conservation Fund, Arlington, VA)

• Geo-Referenced Database and Mapping System 

(USDA Forest Service, R-8)

• The Influence of State U&CF programs on 

Commercial and Consulting Arboricultural Firms in

the Thirteen Southern States: An Econometric 

Impact Analysis (Clemson University)

• Determining Urban vs. Rural Effects on Current 

and Future Tree Species Composition of Two 

Known Forests in the Louisville Area (University of 

Louisville) 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 2,508

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 1,782

Number of hours of volunteer assistance generated:

32,486

Number of Tree City USA communities: 588
31

Program Overview

During the FYs 1991 to 1998, the Alabama Forestry

Commission (AFC) was the lead agency in carrying out

the State’s U&CF Program. Emphasis was placed on

developing program capacity, increasing professionalism,

and enhancing volunteers and new partnerships. As a

result, the State has witnessed the emergence of 115

legally constituted municipal urban forestry programs,

an increased hiring of city foresters and arborists, a

growing urban forestry-related private sector, and a

growing nonprofit urban forestry sector. Many of these

urban forestry programs and efforts can attribute

their growth and development to State and Federal

assistance. A historic agreement was signed in 1999,

which greatly expanded Alabama’s U&CF Program

capability. Auburn University (AU), AFC, Alabama

Urban Forestry Association (AUFA), and the USDA

Forest Service agreed to a new partnership to coordinate

the resources of each group in carrying out the U&CF

Program. In the agreement, AU has the responsibility

for statewide leadership and delivery of the program

with support from the other partners. The AFC agreed

to an Interagency Personnel Agreement (IPA) that

assigns the State’s U&CF Program coordinator to AU.

This position remains an AFC employee, but will be

supervised and funded by AU. The volunteer/partnership

position operates out of the Birmingham Botanical

Gardens. The position is an AU employee, supervised

and funded by the university. The other partner

groups and agencies will cooperate and assist AU 

in carrying out the State’s U&CF Program.

Program Accomplishments

As part of this project, the City of Fairhope will perform

an inventory of trees with a spatial map locating where

new trees are needed. The data will be used to develop

a comprehensive master tree-planting plan. This

process will use new technologies (i.e., global 

positioning system mapping), while providing 

educational opportunities for students majoring 

in geography at the University of North Alabama. 

A professional landscape designer will be contracted

to develop the tree-planting scheme. The designs and

layouts of trails and walkways will focus on new tree

plantings and existing old trees to enhance opportunities

for visitors to learn about the value of urban trees.

Data collected and produced by the University of

North Alabama will be used to produce a digital map

with a complete database on each tree.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 153

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 166

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,912

Number of trees planted: 5,000

Number of Tree City USA communities: 86

Contact

Neil Letson

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

P.O. Box 302550

Montgomery, AL 36130-2550

334-240-9360 (phone)

334-240-9390 (fax)

e-mail: Letsonn@forestry.state.al.us

Alabama
32

that includes environmentally sound development

policies coupled with economic and social improvements.

The AFC participated in the final presentation to the

community and discussed programs such as Tree City

USA, a program the community can understand and

embrace to address community forestry issues and

citizen involvement.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 279

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 347

Number of training hours provided: 260

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,508

Number of trees planted: 5,080

Number of Tree City USA communities: 15

Contact

Patti Erwin

Arkansas Forestry Commission

2780 North Garland Avenue

Fayetteville, AR 72704

479-442-8627 (phone)

479-442.2117 (fax)

e-mail: perwin@arkansasusa.com

Program Overview

The U&CF Program is designed to provide communities,

nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions

with the necessary tools, information, and technology

to be good stewards of the urban and community forest.

Engaging these groups helps build the capacity of the

program and encourages urban forestry at the local

level. To meet the growing demand for technical 

assistance, the Arkansas Forestry Commission provides

assistance through urban forestry representatives

from the 11 districts. These representatives work

closely with their communities, schools, and various

organizations to increase public awareness of the

value of urban trees and improve standards for tree

planning, planting, and care.

Program Accomplishments

In the Arkansas Delta Region, the Arkansas Forestry

Commission began a new partnership with the Delta

Research Design Center (DRDC), a nonprofit outreach

office of the University of Arkansas Community

Design Center.

The DRDC focuses on creating plans for sustainable

development throughout the Arkansas Delta. Local

residents and communities are encouraged to incorporate

a participatory approach to comprehensive planning

Arkansas
33

Two other sections have secured grants from the

Recreational Trail Program. VABI also received a

$10,000 grant to remove exotic Brazilian pepper on

one section of the trail. Funding has been secured for

three separate segments of the trail for 3 years from

the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

(ISTEA). The Florida Recreation Development Assistance

Program is funding improvements such as a boardwalk,

fishing pier, and picnic facility, as well as nature,

bicycle, pedestrian, and exercise trails. The Land and

Water Conservation Fund and Sarasota County jointly

funded installing a canoe launch and a 100-person

picnic shelter at one end of the trail near Caspersen

Beach. The Venice High School Interact Club, the Boy

Scouts, and the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2001

have all adopted projects along the Venetian Waterway

Park. During the first annual Volunteer Trailblazers

banquet, the program recognized many individuals for

their continued efforts. Once completed, the trail is

expected to serve more than 180,000 people annually. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 228

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 66

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,300

Number of trees planted: 20,599

Number of Tree City USA communities: 127

Contact

Mike Humphrey

Florida Division of Forestry

3125 Conner Boulevard

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650

850-414-8602 (phone)

850-921-6724 (fax)

e-mail: humphrm@doacs.state.fl.us

Program Overview

The U&CF Program is designed to educate the public

on the full benefits of well-managed urban forests. 

The goals of the strategic plan created by the Division

of Forestry and the Florida Urban Forestry Council

include: promoting the active involvement of citizen

groups and volunteers; fostering professionalism; 

promoting best practices in tree care, production, and

management; seeking legislation and funding to support

urban forestry programs; encouraging research; and

promoting fire safety.

Program Accomplishments

The purpose of the Venetian Waterway Park in Venice,

FL, is to build a sustainable resource for public 

enjoyment that incorporates the character of the 

area and its natural resources, as well as the widely

diverse interests of the communities that provides

recreational, environmental, historical, and cultural

perspectives, and establishes an eloquent legacy for

generations to come. At this time 2-1/2 miles of a 

10-foot-wide, universally accessible path have been

installed. A Volunteer Trailblazer program is under

way, and more than 3,500 hours of volunteer 

participation have been logged. Venice Area

Beautification, Inc. (VABI), a subsidiary of the Venice

Area Chamber of Commerce, has raised more than

$3.2 million in donations toward the park. The program

has hired a grants coordinator, using funding from

the USDA Forest Service through the Florida Division

of Forestry U&CF Grant Program. The grants coordinator

has secured nearly $1 million in grants, garnered

excellent press coverage for the Venice Waterway Park,

produced a full-color donor brochure, and published 

a quarterly newsletter. 

One section of the trail has been complemented 

with lighting and the installation of a butterfly garden.

Florida
34

Program Overview

The U&CF Program provides communities, large and

small, with resources to help citizens become more

aware and appreciate the benefits of a healthy and

sustainable urban and community forest. The 5-year

plan for Georgia's U&CF Program identifies six key

issues that will be addressed through goals and activities

in FY 2000 through FY 2004. Key issues include (1)

reducing tree loss and conserving essential green space,

(2) understanding the resource value of trees, (3)

advocating proper tree maintenance, (4) understanding

and adopting local ordinances that regulate land

development, (5) incorporating professional expertise

to promote sustainable urban forestry programs, and

(6) designing infrastructure with urban forestry in mind.

By addressing these statewide issues, the U&CF Program

is helping to build local capacity and form vital cities

through healthy and sustainable urban forests.

Program Accomplishments

The "Terrific Trees: Building Partnerships for Increased

Awareness of the Benefits of Trees" project of Sandy

Springs/North Fulton County, GA, is expanding 

community outreach in tree education to audiences

not typically served by current programs and building

existing school and community programs and 

partnerships. The Terrific Trees program of Keep Sandy

Springs/North Fulton Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep

Georgia Beautiful, provides more than 60 tree education

and Arbor Day programs for 22 North Fulton schools,

serving nearly 3,000 students. In addition, this 

organization conducts outreach efforts to educate their

target audience—real estate agents—about the value

of trees in this heavily populated and developed area

within the city limits of Atlanta. Using a presentation

that emphasizes tree benefits to real estate agents and

new homeowners, they have been engaging agents

from Harry Norman Realtor groups in Buckhead and

Sandy Springs to be the "ambassadors" that carry the

message of the value of trees. Workshops for homeowner

associations on the benefits of trees are being promoted

through Harry Norman Realtors. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 425

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 360

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 8,540

Number of Tree City USA communities: 96

Contact

Susan Reisch

Georgia Forestry Commission

6835 James B. Rivers/Memorial Drive

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

678-476-6227 (phone)

678-476-6229 (fax)

e-mail: sreisch@gfc.state.ga.us/

Georgia
35

Program Overview

The Kentucky Division of Forestry continued to

expand its urban forestry program throughout the

commonwealth. Perhaps the most important aspect 

of this program is the U&CF Grant Program. The

number of grant applications reached an all-time high

in FY 2002, nearly double the amount from a couple

years ago. With this, the quality of applications continues

to improve, and the division has developed relationships

with new partners. In FY 2002, 25 grants were awarded.

The impact that they have made, and will continue to

make, is impressive. In FY 2002, the division's urban

forestry program held urban forestry training for its

employees, gained two new Tree City USA communities,

worked on tree-planting programs with volunteers,

and had a highly successful Arbor Day. The success

of urban forestry in Kentucky can be seen in the tree

boards and councils that continue to grow across the

commonwealth.

Program Accomplishments

In the past several years, the Northern Kentucky

Urban Forestry Council has accomplished much,

including the work required to hire an executive 

director. To prepare for the director’s arrival in

January 2003, the council had much work to do in 

FY 2002 to make a paid director a reality. The council

completed an assessment of Boone County, one of the

three counties its program reaches. Because Northern

Kentucky is an extension of southern Cincinnati, the

impact of monitoring the urban forest is paramount.

The study will serve as means to educate decision-makers

and citizens, encourage new land development policies,

and potentially revise current zoning. It is hoped that

the study will eventually continue to the neighboring

two counties, so that this growing area is a success

story for the urban forest. Also in FY 2002, the council

established a small grants program, provided arborist

training for public works employees, and worked with

newly established tree boards.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 145

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 145

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 400

Number of Tree City USA communities: 28 

Contact

Sarah Gracey

Kentucky Division of Forestry

627 Comanche Trail

Frankfort, KY 40601-1798

502-564-4496 (phone)

502-564-6553 (fax)

e-mail: sarah.gracey@mail.state.ky.us

Kentucky
36

Program Overview

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s

U&CF Program provides technical information to all

communities and organizations in Louisiana requesting

assistance. The Louisiana Urban Forestry Council

serves as an advisory body to the department on 

community forestry issues. The council also is the

main author of the State strategic plan for community

forestry activity and uses this document as a road

map to develop sound, long-lasting community forestry

projects and programs across the State. The strategic

plan has five broad goals: (1) create financial stability,

(2) continue implementation of a comprehensive public

relations plan, (3) continue high-quality educational

programs, (4) assist in improvement and delivery of

the Federal U&CF Grant Program, and (5) promote the

elements of the National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree

City USA program.

Program Accomplishments

The Second Annual Tree School in Metairie, Jefferson

Parish, LA, promoted the importance of formal community

tree management programs to local community leaders

in Jefferson Parish and other areas of Metropolitan

New Orleans. On April 18, 2002, Friends of Jefferson

the Beautiful hosted the Second Annual Tree School

event, which attracted nearly 275 attendees from

around the State. The 1-day, free-of-charge educational

tree session touted nationally known speakers such 

as Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington; Dr.

Edward Gilman, University of Florida; Dr. Kim Coder,

University of Georgia; and Dr. Neil Odenwald,

Louisiana State University. The entire program was

funded through private and corporate donations.

Attendees included arborists and urban foresters,

Louisiana Urban Forestry Council members, local 

government leaders, and concerned citizens. The day’s

highlights included technical tree care information,

including basic tree biology, protecting trees during

construction, tree values to local economies, and

maintaining newly planted trees. The program again

in FY 2002 awarded continuing education credits from

the International Society of Arboriculture and the

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Jefferson Parish Council has been so impressed

with the Tree School that they adopted a resolution

proclaiming Thursday, April 18, 2002, as official "Tree

School Day" in Jefferson Parish. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 136

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 49

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 473

Number of trees planted: 911

Number of Tree City USA communities: 26

Contact

Bonnie Stine

Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry

P.O.Box 1628

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

225-925-4500 (phone)

225-922-1356 (fax)

e-mail: bonnie_s@ldaf.state.la.us

Louisiana
37

Program Overview

Urban forest management is a key to providing quality

of life for Mississippians. The urban forest provides

economic, environmental, social, and health benefits.

Urban forestry programs provide a means for managing

urban natural resources to maximize those benefits.

Of Mississippi’s 2.8 million people, roughly 47 percent

live in urban areas. There are a large number of small

communities in the State, which creates a special

challenge in assuring high-quality urban and community

forest management. It is difficult to make all the 

communities aware of the importance of U&CF, and

many do not have the financial means to support

their own programs. Working with volunteers has

become very important in reaching the public in those

communities. 

Program Accomplishments

The Lake Hazle Trails project in Hazlehurst, MS, is

designed to develop a series of trails at Lake Hazle that

will be located through the trees and bordered by 

fragrant and beautiful plants. Seating areas at 

designated intervals will culminate at a building 

overlooking Lake Hazle, with a community room 

and outdoor classroom for the children. Trails will be

available to all, including the visually and physically

challenged residents of the city and county. They will

use touch-tone panels, which identify the shape of the

leaves of the trees and describe to the visually challenged

the appearance and the use of the wood. Approximately

50 species of trees will be labeled, along with an 

interpretative booklet to be made available at a 

kiosk to be installed at the beginning of the trail. 

To accommodate the hundreds of visually impaired

citizens of the community, touch-tone panels will 

be installed along the trail, together with audible

descriptions of the tree species. This project will greatly

enhance the quality of life for all residents, regardless

of age or physical capability.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 94

Number of communities receiving technical assistance: 113

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,070

Number of Tree City USA communities: 26

Contact

Rick Olson

Mississippi Forestry Commission

301 N. Lamar Street, Suite 300

Jackson, MS 39201

601-359-1386 (phone)

601-359-1349 (fax)

e-mail: rolson@mfc.state.ms.us

Mississippi
38

Program Overview

North Carolina continues to be affected by rapid urban

growth and an accompanying sprawl development pattern.

Local governments continue to develop and strengthen

policies to help direct the management of depleting

forest canopies through tree conservation ordinances;

riparian buffer regulations; and various planning, 

zoning, and development policies. Strong partnerships

with the North Carolina Urban Forest Council,

Cooperative Extension Service, and many other

statewide and community-based agencies continue.

Program Accomplishments

The Tree Masters course was a comprehensive 12-hour

curriculum using the Plant Health Care resource

materials from the International Society of Arboriculture.

Committee members from the Master Gardener Volunteer

Program attended two or more of the 4-week series.

During February 2002, the Tree Masters grant provided

funding to hold two successful community tree care

workshops for green industry professionals. More

than 145 professionals attended the training, with 55

participating in the Hazard Tree Field Day. The grant

proposal allocated funding for a program assistant

position to handle requests by schools for tree planting,

identifying trees on nature trails and maintaining

existing tree plantings in two parks. Through the 

program assistant’s efforts, 40 trees were planted 

on six school campuses. 

The Cooperative Extension Service introduced the

Trees of Strength Program in FY 2001, and, as a

result of the September 11 tragedy in New York City,

it evolved into a statewide initiative in FY 2002. Under

this program, the partnership was able to market this

effort and sponsor two tree-planting events. Six trees

were planted with Duke Power Company at Petree

Elementary in Winston-Salem. A formal ceremony and

tree planting were held in Tanglewood Arboretum to

honor law enforcement and firefighting personnel in

the United States. The representatives received framed

certificates and assisted with the planting of a memorial

oak tree to the victims of September 11, 2001. The

North Carolina School of the Arts received a Tree

Stewardship certificate at the county awards program

for saving a 100-year-old white oak from removal slated

in the college expansion project. The Treasured Tree

Program committee sent a letter and educational

materials to the school’s chancellor in the effort to

save the tree.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 155

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 131

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 77

Number of Tree City USA communities: 51

Contact

Virginia Russell

North Carolina Division of Forest Resources

P.O. Box 29581

Raleigh, NC 27626-0581

919-733-21692 x 253 (phone)

919-715-5247 (fax)

e-mail: virginia.Russell@ncmail.net

North Carolina
39

Program Overview

Oklahoma's Urban Forestry Program provides 

communities and professionals with the most

advanced technical information available. It provides

guidance in establishing long-range urban forestry

programs both in municipalities and for

volunteer/nonprofit organizations. Each local forestry

program in Oklahoma has its own set of circumstances

and special needs. Forestry Services continues to 

provide support to all communities interested in

building or developing programs. The program’s 

continued assistance helps to monitor progress and

improvements in the overall health and well being of

trees in those communities. It is a slow process, but

as more people learn what it takes to keep trees alive

and healthy, the program sees a greater number of

successful tree-planting projects. As a result, 

communities are investing more in tree planting,

maintenance, and local community forestry programs.

The program’s technical support, combined with funding

through grant programs, is providing communities with

seed money to build and expand their local programs

much more quickly than would otherwise be possible.

The Urban Forestry Program will continue to implement

the 5-year urban forestry strategic plan. Forestry

Services will continue to cooperate with the State U&CF

Council and consider its advice in developing programs.

Program Accomplishments

As Oklahoma approaches its centennial celebration of

statehood, The Tree Bank Foundation will encourage

its partners and statewide volunteer network to begin

planning for the establishment of Centennial Tree

Groves throughout Oklahoma communities. During

the settlement of Oklahoma, many trees were cleared

but also planted as a result of various land runs. 

The Tree Bank will help communities establish local

educational programs to help highlight the important

role trees have played in the settlement of the Oklahoma

Territory. Historic and special trees will be highlighted,

and educational efforts addressing the many values

and benefits of community trees will move forward.

The Tree Bank Foundation has recently secured

endorsement of the Statewide Centennial Coordination

Committee for this phase of Oklahoma’s Centennial

Celebration. For the next several years, the committee

will also be traveling the State, helping communities,

town, and cities begin the planning process for 

establishing Centennial Tree Groves on public lands. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 143

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 119

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,472

Number of Tree City USA communities: 21

Contact

Mark Bays

Oklahoma Forestry Services, Dept. of Agriculture

2800 N. Lincoln Boulevard

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-522-6150 (phone)

405-522-4583 (fax)

e-mail: mark@oda.state.ok.us

Oklahoma
40

Program Overview

The U&CF Program in South Carolina provides 

communities of all sizes with technical assistance to

help citizens become more aware and appreciative of

the benefits of a healthy and sustainable community

forest. South Carolina’s U&CF 5-year strategic plan

identifies 11 key issues that will be addressed through

action items from FY 2001 through FY 2005. These

issues include, but are not limited, reducing tree loss

and conserving essential green space; advocating proper

tree maintenance, removal, replacement, and protection;

understanding and adopting local ordinances that 

regulate land development; incorporating professional

expertise to promote sustainable community forestry

programs; and designing public areas and rights-of-way

with trees in mind. By addressing these statewide

issues, the U&CF Program is helping to build local

capacity and form vital partnerships in communities

through healthy and sustainable urban forests.

Program Accomplishments

Accomplishments for FY 2002 include the establishment

of a functional living buffer using native plant material

for the community to observe and emulate, the 

publication of a citizens ‘how-to’ booklet, Backyard

Buffers for the SC Lowcountry, and the creation of an

educational Web site. The buffer plan, plant list, and

the importance of river buffers can be found at

http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/planning/

riverbuffer/workingbuffer. 

The Beaufort County Model River Buffer Demonstration

will create a project adjacent to the county’s government

complex that will demonstrate river buffer standards.

This demonstration project will also educate the 

community on the aesthetic, economic, and functional

values of forested, vegetated buffers along the waterways.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 151

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 80

Number of training hours provided: 10,495

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 206

Number of trees planted: 537

Number of Tree City USA communities: 31

Contact

Liz Gilland

South Carolina Commission of Forestry

5500 Broad River Road

Columbia, SC 29212

803-896-8864 (phone)

803-896-8880 (fax)

e-mail: lgilland@forestry.state.sc.us

South Carolina
41

Program Overview

The Tennessee U&CF Program celebrated continued

success in FY 2002 in a number of areas. These

include increases in Tree City USA and Tree Line USA

programs, completing the State Champion Tree list,

revitalizing the ReLeaf project, and continuing the

Arbor Day Poster Contest. Additional successes were

achieved by assisting the Tennessee Urban Forestry

Council, especially in arboretum certification; 

sponsoring the State urban forestry conference; 

and administering the pass-through grants. These

activities and accomplishments occurred with funding

assistance from the USDA Forest Service. 

Program Accomplishments

In FY 2001, East Tennessee State University (ETSU)

became interested in participating in the State arboretum

certification program. Arboretum Certification is a

partnership program between the Tennessee Urban

Forestry Council, the Tennessee Federation of Garden

Clubs, and the State Department of Agriculture,

Forestry Division. After reviewing the requirements

and making certain the university met them, ETSU

submitted its application in the spring of 2002. After

representatives of the partnership inspected the campus,

ETSU was approved for level 4 status, which means 

it has 120 species labeled, has a map and list of the

trees for self-guided tours, sponsors an arboretum

newsletter, and has staff or volunteers available to

conduct tours when requested. ETSU Arboretum has

gone beyond the requirements to include labeling

additional trees, establishing the nonprofit group

Friends of the ETSU Arboretum, providing an

announcement about the arboretum to area high schools,

developing a Web page, and installing interpretive

signs. It is currently in the process of developing an

audiotape for self-guided tours that can be checked

out of the campus library. Dedication of the ETSU

Arboretum was listed in the State highlights for

Tennessee in the May 2, 2002, edition of USA Today.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 51

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 60

Number of training hours provided: 36 (estimate)

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 331

Number of trees planted: 1,223 (Just trees from grants)

Number of Tree City USA communities: 28

Contact

Bruce Webster

Tennessee Division of Forestry

Box 40627, Melrose Station

Nashville, TN 37204

615-837-5436 (phone)

615-837-5003 (fax)

e-mail: bruce.webster@state.tn.us

Tennessee
42

Program Overview

Texas is one of the most rapidly urbanizing States in

America. Currently, more than 8 out of 20 Texans live

in urban areas and the State's population is expected

to reach 35 million within 25 years, with most of this

growth occurring in and around large urban centers.

The Texas Forest Service (TFS) has placed staff urban

foresters in most of these cities to serve as the catalysts

that will move communities along the continuum from

nonparticipatory to self-sustaining community forestry

programs.

Many of the resource and tree problems at the local

level have cumulative effects that cross community

boundaries. Air pollution, flooding, and the loss of

open space are major landscape-scale themes that

resource managers at the community level struggle to

deal with effectively. The scale of urban forestry

expertise, tools, and solutions must also grow to

address these issues across the traditional community

boundaries. The TFS strives to solve these complex

problems by providing leadership in the management

of natural resources in and around urban centers.

Program Accomplishments

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful, in partnership with the

Texas Forest Service, decided to expand on the Keep

America Beautiful idea of a "Liberty Garden." The

original idea was to plant a garden in each community

to honor the firefighters and police officers who lost

their lives on September 11, 2001. In Nacogdoches

County, the 2 organizations decided to plant a garden

at all 5 fire stations in the city and at all 19 volunteer

fire departments in the county, plus 1 large tree garden

in a city park near the police department. Dozens of

volunteers planted hundreds of trees and thousands

of flowering bulbs at these various locations. A dedication

ceremony was held at the main garden with local 

officials, firefighters, police officers, and citizens

attending. This project received the 2002 Community

Forestry Award for Civic Organizations, and Keep

America Beautiful has also recognized this project and

is publicizing it nationwide.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 458

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 103

Number of training hours provided: 218.5

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 11,543

Number of Tree City USA communities: 46

Contact

John Giedraitis

Texas Forest Service

301 Tarrow Drive, Suite 364

College Station, TX 77840-7896

979-458-6657 (phone)

979-458-6655 (fax)

e-mail: jpg@tfs.tamu.edu

Texas
43

Program Overview

In Virginia, the U&CF Program operates with minimal

staffing and State budget support. Therefore, the program

is delivered with an approach that relies on delivering

U&CF grants, providing educational opportunities, and

developing strategic partnerships. Virginia is a very

diverse State with widely varying needs depending on

geographic region and population density. The key

issues and level of urban forestry program sophistication

are markedly different in western and southern

Virginia compared to the population centers in

Tidewater, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. In the

more highly populated regions, urban forestry programs

are at the local level. The key issues relating to urban

forestry in Virginia are protecting and enhancing open

space in rapidly urbanizing areas, improving tree care

and maintenance in all communities, providing for

increased tree cover in urban centers, developing

and/or strengthening local U&CF programs (especially

in the west and south of the State), providing urban

forestry training at the community college and 

university levels, and generating more financial support

for U&CF programs at the State and local levels.

To address those issues, the Department of Forestry

uses the U&CF Grant Program as its primary tool in

delivering related assistance. The program is aggressively

promoted and the funding used to support small, very

focused grants that meet local needs. The grants are

also used to develop strategic partnerships that will

help the agency enhance its program delivery. Examples

of such partnerships include Trees Virginia (Virginia

Urban Forest Council), Virginia Tech Community Design

Assistance Center, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the

International Society of Arboriculture, the Virginia

Professional Horticulture Conference, selected 

community colleges, and various land trusts. Through

these partnerships, the Department of Forestry is able

to provide additional community outreach, public 

education, and professional training. The agency has

also developed a good internal training program for U&CF.

Program Accomplishments

The Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center

worked with the local project partners to develop a

comprehensive greenway master plan. The center’s

efforts involved significant input from local citizenry

coordinated by FOLAR (Friends of the Lower Appomattox

River). In addition, the project generated media 

materials that showcased the natural, scenic, 

recreational, and historic assets of the Appomattox

River corridor. A media tour of the area involved local

government officials, State agency representatives,

local interest groups, and a representative from the

local congressman’s office. The project generated a

video that was aired twice on State public television

accompanied by interviews of the project participants.

It also generated an electronic media presentation

that is being used by the Crater Planning District

Commission to continue to develop project support.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 90

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 42

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 8,952

Number of Tree City USA communities: 38

Contact

Paul Revell

Virginia Department of Forestry

P.O. Box 3758

Charlottesville, VA 22903

434-977-6555 (phone)

434-296-2369 (fax)

e-mail: revellp@dof.state.va.us

Virginia
44

Program Overview

Alaska, with a population of 635,000, covers 571,951

square miles, making it the largest State geographically

in the United States. Many residents of Alaska live 

in remote villages, inaccessible by road. The most 

significant challenge community forestry faces in

Alaska is the sheer size of the State. Travel distances

and time between destinations can be overwhelming.

The cost of face-to-face visits with local government

agencies can consume budgeted travel costs rapidly.

Another challenge is the rapid growth rate in Alaska’s

largest population center. More than one-third of the

State’s residents live within the Municipality of

Anchorage. The Anchorage area, surrounded by 

water and mountains on all sides, has limited growth

opportunities. As population and development within

the area expand, the competition for land use increases,

and the need to manage urban forests and open

spaces for the many benefits afforded to residents 

is more apparent than ever. 

Program Accomplishments

In May 2002, for the first time, the Alaska Community

Tree Steward Course was held in Wasilla. The 30-hour

course was held 1 day a week for 5 weeks with a series

of speakers covering the following topics: tree biology;

soils and fertilization; selecting, planting, and caring

for trees and shrubs; pruning; problem diagnosis;

landscape design; and other urban forestry topics.

Twelve people completed the course and agreed to

donate 30 hours to community forestry projects in the

Matanuska Susitna Valley area during the next year.

Alaska Community Forest Council

The 15-member Alaska Community Forest Council met

regularly throughout the year, advising the division on

program priorities and activities. Members reviewed

grant applications and made recommendations on

funding projects. The council also placed displays and

publications on tree planting and care at five nurseries

in three towns. In addition to supporting the State

program, members are valuable partners in local 

community forestry programs.

Volunteer Program

Volunteers continue to provide a significant amount 

of the program outputs for community forestry in

Alaska. Several large projects commanded most of the

volunteer time, which included maintaining the two

millennium grove projects and Midtown Park in

Anchorage. Numerous hours of time were also 

generated by the tree steward program.

Statistical Highlights

Number of communities assisted: 16

Number of training hours provided: 897

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 129

Number of trees planted: 49

Contacts

John W. See

State Coordinator

550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1450

Anchorage, AK 99501–3566

907–269–8466 (phone)

e-mail: JohnSee@dnr.state.ak.us

Patricia Joyner

Education Coordinator

(Same Address)

907–269–8465 (phone)

e-mail: PatriciaJoyner@dnr.state.ak.us

Region 10

Alaska Region
45

Program Overview

The 20 Northeast and Midwest States and the District

of Columbia are home to nearly 43 percent of the

Nation’s population, 85 percent of which (102 million

residents) live within 32 million acres of urban forests.

The amount of the region’s land classified as "urban"

nearly tripled between 1950 and 1990. For many

urban residents, the urban forest is the only forest

they encounter. 

The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program

in the Northeastern Area encourages communities to

appreciate and manage their forest resources through

public involvement, commitment, and action. Working

with State foresters and other partners, the program

helps States and communities assess and monitor

urban forest health and establish or restore urban

green space, and it offers educational material, land-use

planning, disaster response, and tree inventory and

database management capabilities.

Program Accomplishments

The USDA Forest Service and its State partners assisted

more than 5,200 communities in fiscal year (FY) 2002—

37 percent of all cities and towns in the Northeast and

Midwest. The Northeastern Area awarded 51 grants

totaling more than $7.5 million. State and local groups

added $12 million in funds or services, including nearly

1.6 million hours of training and volunteer labor for

tree surveys, planting, and care. Another 40 grants

worth $3 million were postponed because funds were

needed to battle catastrophic wildfires in the western

United States. 

After the terrible events of September 11, 2001, people

sought fitting memorials to victims of the tragedy and

ways to honor acts of heroism. Responding to many

requests, the USDA Forest Service initiated the Living

Memorials Project, which will help people create lasting

"living memorials" to the victims of terrorism, their

families, their communities, and the Nation. The U&CF

Program provided leadership and funding for 33 living

memorials in the New York City metropolitan area,

southwestern Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

Technical assistance and new online tools at 

http://www.livingmemorialsproject.net will continue

to help people evoke the life-affirming, healing power

of trees, while creating healthier landscapes and

healthier communities. 

The Northeastern Area provided state-of-the-art 

technical assistance and training through its Centers

for U&CF based in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and

Pennsylvania. This year’s projects included the following:

• Dialogue on Diversity helps natural resource 

managers connect with underserved communities,

gaining more participation from residents and local 

businesses. 

• Project City Trees introduces kindergarten-throughthird-grade youngsters to fictional cartoon characters

that teach urban natural resources concepts.

• Mobile Community Tree Inventory developed software

that is now available on line. It uses personal data 

assistants (PDAs) to help managers quickly collect 

and analyze the condition of trees at the community

scale. 

The U&CF Program continued to revitalize communities

in metropolitan and inner-city areas. Beyond the Title

VIII projects detailed in this publication, key projects

were completed in FY 2002 in the following cities:

• Philadelphia—USDA Forest Service staff, with 

support from Philadelphia’s managing director, 

convened city, State, and Federal partners to develop

green neighborhood projects. 

• Yonkers, NY—Local residents and churches planted

and improved trees in two low-income neighborhoods

as part of a series of "tree stewardship festivals" 

organized by Groundwork Yonkers.

• New York City—More than 1 million people visited an 

interactive Web site, http://www.oasisnyc.net, to 

learn how to identify and evaluate opportunities for 

tree planting and open space across the metropolitan

region. 

• Boston—EarthWorks Projects removed invasive 

plant species in the city’s "urban wilds" parkland 

and worked with neighboring residents to plant 

1,600 native trees and shrubs, enhancing biodiversity

and erosion control and to instill greater 

"ownership" by the community.

• Springfield, MA—A citizen-based Neighborhood 

Tree Steward training program was established, 

providing residents in eight Enterprise neighborhoods

with instruction and expertise resulting in their 

planting and maintaining more than 230 trees in 

the program’s first year.

Northeastern Area 
46

• Syracuse, NY—Municipal staff and volunteers were 

trained to inventory, assess, and maintain trees in 

parks, resulting in a video to stimulate similar programs 

by Cooperative Extension organizations nationwide. 

• Baltimore, MD—The Parks and People Foundation 

completed a model action plan with Franklin 

Square Elementary School, including an outdoor 

classroom in which almost a full city block of 

impermeable black-topped surfaces are being 

removed and replaced with green space. 

• Madison, WI—The Urban Open Space Foundation 

engaged 60 community residents in efforts to 

restore 26 acres of newly conserved prairie and 

woodland spaces, called "Troy Gardens," in the 

heart of Madison’s diverse Northside. 

• Davenport, IA—An inner-city park was established

and trees planted and improved in LeClaire Heights,

an area with many neglected vacant lots and open 

spaces. 

• Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN—The Twin Cities Tree 

Trust targeted 22 diverse neighborhoods in an effort 

to raise awareness and to plant and care for trees.

• District of Columbia—More than 500 voluteers

completed a tree census using PDA technology. 

With neighborhood residents throughout the city, 

the GCA Casey Tree Endowment Fund counted 

and classified more than 100,000 trees and 15,000 

planting spaces.

As efforts to eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle

continued in Chicago and New York City, a new 

outbreak was discovered in Jersey City, NJ. Another

pest, the voracious emerald ash borer (EAB), led to a

five-county quarantine around Detroit, an area that

covers more than 2,000 square miles. Millions of dollars

have been spent removing and replanting more than

7,000 trees in densely populated neighborhoods

through projects such as Chicago GreenStreets and

Trees New York. Cost estimates show these efforts will

be dwarfed by the urgent need to halt the spread of

EAB beyond its current confines over the next decade.
47

Program Overview

Connecticut is a highly urbanized State that is also

heavily forested. According to the latest USDA Forest

Service figures, 60 percent of the State is forested. At

the same time, approximately 80 percent of Connecticut

citizens live in urban or suburban environments.

Thus, virtually all citizens of Connecticut live in close

proximity to trees. The health and well-being of the

urban forest is of concern to everyone in the State. 

Program Accomplishments

During FY 2002, the small grants program, the America

the Beautiful Program, offered funding to 33 projects.

Among these projects was the inventory of trees on the

historic East Haven Green, coupled with the publication

of a guidebook that serves to call attention to the

maintenance needs of these trees. It also funded the

planting of more than 30 trees by various neighborhood

groups in Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, and the

planting of 15 trees in Sterling, along Connecticut’s

eastern border. Each of these projects addressed specific

and different needs, yet were all very successful in

promoting the goals and techniques of urban forestry.

An America the Beautiful Grant funded the planting 

of 13 flowering trees on the grounds of the Artist

Collective in Hartford, an inner city academy dedicated

to the arts. Established programs, such as the

Meskwaka Volunteer Training Program and the Tree

Wardens Association of Connecticut, continue to make

substantial progress toward their goals of outreach

and education. The Tree Wardens Academy held a very

successful third year of instruction, with some 27 newly

certified tree wardens completing the course of study

and then passing the exam. While tree warden certification

is not required for an individual to be appointed to that

position, widespread certification of tree wardens is a goal

of both the Urban and Community Forest Council and

the Tree Wardens Association.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental

Protection (CTDEP), Division of Forestry hired Christina

Stacey as seasonal research assistant to review the

tree planting success of the America the Beautiful

Grant Program. Christina researched all grants over

the previous 5 years and identified 86 projects from

52 towns as tree planting projects. She then visited

each of these towns and inspected the tree planting

locations from these grants—1,864 trees total. Of

these, 1,614 were still present and 1,370, or 73 percent

of the original total, were found to be in good or better

condition. Christina also studied the influence of various

factors on the success of these planting projects, and

had some very specific recommendations to pass on 

to the CT DEP and the Urban and Community Forest

Council. Chief among the factors and recommendations

was the importance of committed individuals and

clearly defined goals. 

Connecticut

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 141

Number of communities assisted: 83

Number of Tree City USA communities: 10

Number of trees planted: 522

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 844

Number of hours of training provided: 3,775

Contact 

Chris Donnelly

Urban Forestry Coordinator

Department of Environmental Protection 

Division of Forestry

79 Elm Street

Hartford, CT 06106

860–424–3178 (phone)

860–424–4070 (fax)

e-mail: chris.donnelly@po.state.ct.us

http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/forestry/urbanforest/urbanfor.htm

Chris Donnelly, Connecticut Urban Forestry Coordinator

discusses street tree inventory methods at a workshop

in Norwalk.

Connecticut Lt. Governor Jodi Rell, City Forester John Kehoe,

John Brodeur and Brian Cliff plant trees in Hartford, to 

commemorate the National Tree Trusts planing of 10 million

trees.
48

Program Overview

The Delaware Forest Service U&CF Program assists

Delaware’s communities with the proper planning,

management, and maintenance of trees, forested

areas, and other natural resources. The protection of

the State’s community forest resources is essential as

Delaware’s communities continue to expand and grow. 

Program Accomplishments

The Delaware Forest Service U&CF Program partnered

with Kent County Parks and Recreation Department

to relocate more than 125 trees from the former Taber

State Forest Biomass Wood Utilization Study Area to

several county-owned parks. The Delaware Forest Service

staff provided technical assistance to support the 

successful transplanting of a mix of 4- to 6-inch-caliper

native hardwood tree species, which improved tree

cover within several Kent County communities.

The U&CF Program expanded its partnership with 

the historic community of Knollwood to assist the

neighboring subdivision of Bancroft Heights. The 

subdivision was built in the early 1920s for the workers

of the Citisteel USA, Claymont, DE, plant. Both of

these communities continue to suffer from urban

blight. To improve the communities’ appearances, 

New Castle County Housing, Inc., Citisteel USA, and

the U&CF Program continued to provide technical and

financial support to redevelopment programs for both

communities.

Through cooperative efforts of the Delaware Department

of Natural Resources and Environmental Control,

Division of Soil & Water—Non Point Source Pollution

Program, the Delaware Forest Service will expand the

total dollars offered through its annual subgrant program

in urban and community forestry. To enhance services

to Delaware communities, the U&CF Program will now

be able to offer double the traditional amount of grant

dollars to improve the State’s urban and community

forest resources. Within the 2002 U&CF grant packet,

Delaware’s community leaders will find several 

traditional grants for tree management and tree planting

activities, and one new subgrant designed to improve

water quality and address stormwater management

issues in the State.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 68

Number of communities assisted: 68

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 165

Number of Tree City USA communities: 15

Contact

Bryan Hall

U&CF Coordinator

Delaware Forest Service

2320 South DuPont Highway

Dover, DE 19901

302–698–4500 (phone)

302–697–6245 (fax)

e-mail: austin.short@state.de.us

http://www.state.de.us

Delaware
49

Program Overview

For U&CF activities within the District of Columbia,

FY 2002 was a year of significant progress, both in

terms of forestry operations and visibility. Bolstered

by a tremendous amount of support from Mayor

Anthony A. Williams, the District’s tree program was

in the news and local television media several dozen

times, and more than 10,000 residents, community

groups, and others requested information or service

regarding the District’s trees.

Program Accomplishments

Within the District Department of Transportation, 

the Urban Forestry Administration is responsible for

planting and caring for the District’s 100,000-plus

street trees. It is also the lead agency that provides

advice and guidance to other city agencies, community

groups, and others on tree and landscape issues 

districtwide. Some of the work and accomplishments

of the administration in FY 2002 include the following:

• Passed a tree preservation ordinance that protects 

trees 18 inches and more in diameter on both public

and private property throughout the district.

• Established the District Champion Trees Program, 

formed to identify and publish a list of large trees 

in the District of Columbia.

• Established the "Right Trees Right Place Program," 

an initiative undertaken with the local electric 

power utility, with the goal of removing damaged 

and disfigured trees located under power lines and 

replacing them with appropriate trees that will not 

interfere with overhead utilities.

• Planted more than 4,000 trees, pruned 15,000 

trees, and removed more than 2,000 dead trees.

More than 500 trained volunteers participated in the

largest volunteer street tree inventory in the country

this year. The Casey Trees Endowment Fund, a nonprofit

organization established in 2001, conducted the 

district-wide street tree inventory with the assistance

of the Urban Forestry Administration, a grant from

the USDA Forest Service, college interns in the 

environmental science field, and professionals who

guided the citizen volunteers and checked diligently

for quality assurance of the data. This data is now 

the basis of the Urban Forestry Administration’s new

street tree inventory system.

Community Resources, Inc., continued its Street Tree

Stewardship program this year with a funding boost

from the District of Columbia State Forester through

the U&CF Program and planted more than 100 trees

in the Shaw neighborhood. The program teaches residents in lower income neighborhoods the value trees

and greenery bring to the whole city. Since it began 3

years ago, the survival rate of the trees planted under

the program has consistently been above 95 percent.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 11

Number of communities assisted: 10

Number of hours of training provided: 700

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

30,000

Number of trees planted: 4,000

Contact

Ainsley Caldwell

Chief and State Forester

District Department of Transportation

Urban Forestry Administration

4901 Shepherd Parkway, SW

Washington, DC 20032

202–727–5512 (phone)

http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ufa/index.shtm

District of Columbia
50

Program Overview

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR),

Division of Forest Resources, U&CF Program helps

communities and other units of local government

develop or expand U&CF Programs; increase the

awareness of urban forestry in Illinois; and plant, 

protect, and maintain trees in open spaces, green

belts, parks, and residential developments. The Illinois

U&CF Program helps communities and urban areas

sustain the health and integrity of the forest resources

in and around their communities. The IDNR works

toward establishing and maintaining local community

forestry programs by providing technical assistance,

disseminating information, enhancing partnerships,

and providing resources and recognition.

Program Accomplishments

Through the volunteer coordination provided 

contractually through the University of Illinois for

Central and Northern Illinois, a new Regional U&CF

Council was created in the south suburban area of

Cook and surrounding counties. This council has

served as a vehicle for providing technical assistance

and educational training in the areas of tree risk 

management, new tree planting technologies, and tree

and development concepts. The project was organized

and conducted by Scott Bretthauer, extension specialist

in urban forestry, the IDNR's contractual community

forestry volunteer coordinator for Central and

Northern Illinois. 

The Springfield Urban Forestry Administration 

established the first ever Blue Ribbon Committee on

U&CF. The committee's purpose was to review and

provide recommendations on the future of U&CF in

Illinois. The committee recommended that the core

program be maintained, funding be provided for the

U&CF Grant Program, dedicated U&CF staff be hired,

and educational outreach on the important topics

related to tree care continue to be provided.

Several new communities were reached through 

contractual support of Southern Illinois University. A

tree seedling distribution program was used to initiate

conversation with communities that typically had not

requested or received community forestry assistance.

This outreach program worked with 22 new communities.

These communities received nearly 350 seedlings for

planting on public property. Once communication lines

were opened, the opportunity was used to distribute

educational and informational brochures in addition

to the free seedlings. Time was spent with each 

community individually to discuss the importance 

of good community forest management. Specific 

management issues discussed included proper 

tree-planting techniques, including placing the right

tree in the right place; proper tree care; and proper

tree pruning, including the negative impacts that 

topping has on trees. Also, information was provided

about the Tree City USA Program. This project was

organized and conducted by David D. Close, community

forestry volunteer coordinator for Southern Illinois

University. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 227

Number of communities assisted: 227

Number of Tree City USA communities: 172

Number of trees planted (seedlings): 44,575

Number of days: 973

Number of hours of training provided of volunteer

assistance to program: 1826

Contact

Reinee Hildebrandt

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

One Natural Resources Way

Springfield, IL 62702-1271

217–782–2361 (phone)

217–785–5517 (fax)

e-mail: rhildebrandt@dnrmail.state.il.us

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/conservation/forestry/

Urban/Index.htm

Illinois
51

Program Overview

The Community and Urban Forestry (C&UF) Program

provides statewide leadership to increase public

awareness of the value of trees and associated natural

resources in urban areas, where more than 70 percent

of Indiana citizens live. The program assists and

encourages Indiana communities and volunteers to

protect, expand, and improve community forests. The

program strives to help citizens make the connection

between rural and urban forests, and to incorporate

the ideology that the urban forest is part of the community infrastructure.

Program Accomplishments

In addition to conducting our regular grant program,

we awarded special project grants to Keep Indianapolis

Beautiful (KIB), and to the Indiana Arborist Association

(IAA). KIB used the funding to produce radio spots

and to pay for specific internet advertising regarding

the benefits of urban forestry. The spots were on two

popular radio stations during the morning commute.

KIB also initiated a riparian tree-planting project at

Chapel Glen School. The entire school participated in

the effort. The IAA hosted and financially sponsored

60 certified arborists to complete ArborMaster training.

C&UF organized People and Trees—A Festival of Growth

at the Governor’s residence. The event attracted more

than 500 people and included the IAA Tree Climbing

Jamboree; a wood utilization demonstration by crafters;

Wood-Mizer sawmill demonstration with seven industrial

arts high school classes; and the Tree City USA awards

event. Governor and Mrs. O’Bannon spent the entire

day outdoors visiting with the 500 guests. In addition,

they presented the Tree City USA awards to each Tree

City USA community, posed for photos with them,

and spent time visiting with individuals from each

Tree City USA community present. 

C&UF hosted the Northeastern Area Association of

State Foresters (NAASF) annual summer meeting with

the goal of demonstrating the links between traditional

and urban forestry. The meeting was held in downtown

Indianapolis, and a day-long bus tour was included,

which highlighted urban projects that had traditional

forestry values. The bus tour featured discussion 

with two city foresters: Jason Kissel of Indianapolis

and Lee Huss of Bloomington. The tour included stops

at an urban wood utilization project called ‘Trees to

Furniture,’ where the log yard was highlighted, and

White River, where the group viewed an urban flood

plain reclamation area. The group also visited Holliday

Park Nature Center and Ft. Harrison State Park, two

popular urban forests in and around Indianapolis. Not

only did NAASF members and their guests learn more

about the potential link between urban forestry and

traditional forestry projects, but Division of Forestry

staff learned more about the C&UF.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 453

Number of communities assisted: 404

Number of hours of training provided: 176 

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

118,050

Number of trees planted: 6,270 

Number of Tree City USA communities: 45 

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 10

Contact

Pamela Louks

Department of Natural Resources

Division of Forestry

6515 E. 82nd Street, Suite 204

Indianapolis, IN 46250

317–915–9390 (phone)

317–915–9392 (fax)

e-mail: plouks@dnr.state.in.us

http://www.state.in.us/dnr/forestry

Indiana
52

Program Overview

The Iowa U&CF Program serves as a valuable resource

to the State’s residents. The role of the program is to

provide broad-based technical, educational, and

financial assistance to communities, individuals, and

organizations. The result is improved awareness of

urban forestry and 

its practices and the benefits of managing a sustained

and healthy natural resource.

Program Accomplishments

Operation Releaf

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in

partnership with Alliant Energy, coordinated 20 residential tree distribution projects through Operation

Releaf. A total of 8,437 landscape trees (6-8 feet tall

and 21 containerized species) were distributed to

4,134 Alliant Energy customers at 50 percent of the

retail price. More than $394,000 worth of trees (retail

value of$674,960) were purchased from 42 local nurseries and garden centers, and 543 trained volunteers

assisted with tree planting and care. Alliant Energy

has indicated that they wish to participate again in FY

2003 to duplicate these initial efforts.

Million More by 2004

Using $250,000 in State grant funds, the Million More

by 2004 supported a total of 93 community projects

that resulted in the planting of 5,050 new landscape

trees on public properties across the State.

Community leaders developed proposals, provided a

dollar-for-dollar match, and agreed to 5-year maintenance agreements. This was the third year of this

effort, and will be the final year due to State budget

cuts. More than 15,000 trees were planted with a

value of more than $2 million to local nurseries and

garden centers during the life of the program.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 594

Number of communities assisted: 526

Number of days of volunteer assistance to the 

program: 54,153

Number of trees planted: 15,475

Number of Tree City USA communities: 123

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 40

Contact

Randy Cook 

Department of Natural Resources 

502 East 9th Street 

Des Moines, IA 50319 

515–281–5600 (phone)

515–281–6794 (fax)

e-mail: randy.cook@dnr.ia.us

Iowa
53

Program Overview

Maine is blessed with a rich natural resource base

and is the most forested State in the Nation. As a

result, citizens often don’t see the need for long-term

community forestry planning. Yet, in a time when forest

fragmentation, sprawl, and liquidation harvesting top

local news, the need for comprehensive community

forestry programs could not be greater. Project

Canopy, Maine’s community forestry program, works

to increase awareness about the benefits trees provide

and encourage public involvement in community

forestry programs. 

Program Accomplishments

Project Canopy initiated an aggressive media campaign,

through newspaper, radio, and television infomercials,

to increase the public’s awareness of community

forestry and the services that Project Canopy can 

provide. In addition to staging the media campaign,

the project fostered public awareness and citizen

involvement through technical assistance, tree steward

workshops, newsletters, participation in fairs and

community events, and training sessions for local 

government. The following examples of projects 

conducted in the past year range from an established

program to a program just beginning:

The City of Biddeford, with strong municipal and citizen

support, started a Project Canopy Committee and

developed a community forestry plan of action. During

an Arbor Week celebration, the committee established

a tree nursery, planted trees, and turned a local park

into an outdoor classroom for local school children.

The Town of Corinna was once home to a large woolen

mill that, when removed, left polluted soil and water

in its wake. The site of the former mill is now classified

as an EPA Superfund site. The town and the EPA are

in the middle of a massive remediation effort that,

with the formation a Project Canopy committee, now

includes recreation trails and newly planted trees in

parks and green spaces.

The School Tree Education Mastery (STEM) Program

in Bath, ME, involves and educates youth about the

environment and the benefits of trees in urban settings.

Sponsored by the Bath Community Forestry Committee

and the Bath Department of Cemeteries and Parks,

STEM resulted in 100 students from local middle and

high schools completing an inventory of 270 public

trees. Beyond assisting the town and gaining 

students a better understanding of the role trees play

in their environment, this program also furthered the

incorporation of natural science subject matter in

school curricula. The Town of Washburn brought

together municipal leaders, citizens, and school students

to plant trees in two town parks. Volunteers learned

proper planting and tree care techniques, and a

brochure was produced that serves as a guide for 

residents visiting the parks and a learning tool for

students.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 179

Number of communities assisted: 133

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

2,196

Number of trees planted: 1,506

Number of Tree City USA communities: 11

Contact

Michael DeBonis

Department of Conservation

Maine Forest Service

22 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0022

207–287–4987 (phone)

207–287–8422 (fax)

e-mail: michael.debonis@maine.gov

http://www.projectcanopy.org

High school students conduct tree inventory in Bath.

Maine
54

Program Overview

The Maryland U&CF Program supports and encourages

urban natural resource stewardship throughout the

State. With program functions ranging from protecting

trees during development, to working with community

groups on tree planting projects, Maryland’s U&CF

Program is a progressive, far-reaching, and 

comprehensive effort to enhance the urban forest

function and increase forest cover in the State.

Program Accomplishments

Revitalizing Baltimore (RB) is one of many initiatives

active in Maryland. RB is a regional partnership

strengthening community-based efforts to improve

urban natural resources supported by the USDA

Forest Service and managed by the Parks & People

Foundation in cooperation with the Maryland State

Forester. This national model for community forestry

and watershed organizing equips people to care for

natural resources and to employ these resources to

revitalize their neighborhoods. Over the last 8 years,

RB has been focusing its efforts along stream valleys

and in neighborhoods with significant tree deficits,

helping to "green" 45 neighborhoods by planting more

than 5,500 street trees and 11,800 riparian plants in

more than 500 projects, involving more than 3,000

volunteers, annually. RB has also provided stewardship

education to more than 10,700 students and 600

adults. RB’s 20 partnering organizations include the

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest

Service, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, several

nonprofit organizations, three watershed associations,

businesses, and academic institutions. RB actively

reaches out to culturally diverse communities to 

help residents plant trees along streets and streams,

transform vacant lots to community green spaces,

restore parks and schoolyards, and support youth

education and adult training to foster stewardship of

natural resources.

During FY 2002, RB supported community forestry

activities among partner agencies and neighborhood

groups through community organizing, technical

assistance, volunteer training, and logistical support.

This resulted in planting 2,002 street trees, more than

doubling last year’s production, by effectively implementing

the USDA Forest Service Title VIII and inner-city grants.

RB also maintained 4,200 street trees and 12,000

riparian plants as part of 125 projects involving 3,200

volunteers who logged 8,100 work hours. RB expanded

a successful demonstration project at Franklin Square

Elementary School (inner-city grant to six other city

schools, removing asphalt and restoring schoolyard

habitats. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of communities assisted: 354

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

10,808

Number of Tree City USA communities: 36

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 9

Number of Tree Line USA Awards: 3

Contact

Mike Galvin, Supervisor

U&CF

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest

Service

Tawes State Office Building, E-1

580 Taylor Avenue

Annapolis, MD 21401

410–260–8507 (phone)

410–260–8595 (fax)

e-mail: mgalvin@dnr.state.md.us

http://www.dnr.state.md.us

Maryland

Blacktop is being removed at the Franklin Square

Elementary School. The first phase of removal and planting

inlcuded this reading circle designed by the students.
55

Program Overview

With dense populations and vast town forests, along

with a tremendous resource of town commons and

conservation land, the people of Massachusetts have

come to expect the comfort and beauty of trees in

their neighborhoods. Through technical assistance,

education, and grant funding, the Department of

Environmental Management (DEM) provides assistance

to communities in their efforts to build support for

community forest resources. Planning and Education

grants support local efforts to develop sustained U&CF

programs in Massachusetts towns and cities. Heritage

Tree Care grants provide funds for professional care 

of large and historically significant trees in public

landscapes. Through a mix of State and private funding,

the Massachusetts ReLeaf Fund—a trust fund established

by the legislature—supports tree-planting projects

throughout the Commonwealth.

Program Accomplishments

The DEM's Urban Forestry Program, in partnership

with the Massachusetts Community Forestry Council,

completed a 5-year strategic planning process. The

plan identifies five broad categories of concern and

activities (stewardship, funding, awareness, tree

canopy, and management), which encompass a healthy

U&CF Program. In addition to the full plan document,

the DEM prepared a colorful, attractive poster that

summarizes and concisely communicates the salient

points of the plan. 

Using Federal funding, the DEM awarded 17 Planning

and Education grants totaling $93,000 to communities

and nonprofit entities throughout the State. These

grants focused on topics of community awareness, forest

inventories, invasive species control, and innovative

youth programs. In addition, the DEM awarded 14

Heritage Tree grants totaling $34,000 to communities

to provide arboricultural care for large and historically

significant trees. Examples of these grants are given

below. 

Nuestras Raices, Inc., an inner-city community 

development agency dealing largely with minority 

populations within the City of Holyoke, received a

Planning and Education grant from the DEM. The goal

of the project was two-fold: first, to train youth from

inner-city Holyoke to assess trees on the planned canal

walkway through the city’s historic center, and second,

to encourage this small group of youth leaders to 

pursue further studies in forestry. The youth presented

their assessment to the city, and their work has been

incorporated into the restoration plan for the canal.

The Town of Marshfield Historical Commission was

awarded a Heritage Tree grant to perform crown cleaning

and bracing of nine trees on the Historic Daniel

Webster Estate. The estate is a veritable arboretum that

was created in the mid-19th century by the great

statesman Daniel Webster. The trees that received care

through these grant funds are all either original trees

planted by Mr. Webster or a second generation of trees

he planted. One tree in particular, the "Great Linden"

(an outstanding Tilia cordata), is a registered State

champion, with an estimated planting date of 1640. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 224

Number of communities assisted: 135

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 748

Number of Tree City USA communities: 68

Contact 

Eric Seaborn 

Department of Environmental Management

251 Causeway Street, Suite 600

Boston, MA 02114

617–626–1468 (phone)

617–626–1449 (fax)

e-mail: Eric.Seaborn@state.ma.us

http://www.state.ma.us/dem/

Volunteers assist Earthworks with tree planting on urban

wilds restoration project in Boston (Grant-Earthworks).

Massachusetts

Massachusetts DEM provides heritage tree grants to help

preserve historic trees.
56

Program Overview

The Michigan Urban and Community Forestry (MUCF)

Program serves as a valuable resource to the State’s

nearly 7.5 million urban residents. The role of the 

program is to provide broad-based technical, educational,

and financial assistance to communities, individuals,

and organizations. The result is improved awareness

of urban forestry, its practices, and the benefits of

managing a sustained and healthy natural resource.

Program Accomplishments

The City of Battle Creek recently completed a 2-year

project to create a tree management plan based on

community perceptions of local urban forestry needs.

The project demonstrated excellent use of community

feedback through survey participation, conducted a

street tree inventory, identified 1,098 trees in hazardous

condition, and established a goal to plant 450 new

trees each year to offset annual losses and increase

overall tree cover. Together with the Greening of Detroit,

the MUCF Program funded the planting of 2,993 trees

in 22 communities and 16 schools, involving more

than 1,000 volunteers. Additional projects included

sponsoring an annual bare-root tree sale (2,450 trees),

the TreeKeeper series of workshops for 50 adults, 

and education programs for nearly 3,000 students.

Since the discovery of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)—

an exotic foreign pest of ash trees—this summer in

Southeast Michigan, the MUCF Council has been at

the forefront of management- and education-related

issues. As part of the advisory council, an EAB 

subcommittee was developed to address awareness

and education needs and identify partners. In November,

this committee—the Greening of Detroit—and U.S.

Senator Debbie Stabenow hosted a media event in

downtown Detroit to draw attention to the issue. 

Throughout the year, the MUCF Program funded 11

community forestry grants and provided 6 libraries

and nature centers with funding to develop and expand

their U&CF reference materials. Two communities

conducted tree inventories and over 800 volunteer

hours were involved with these projects. As part of

Michigan DNR’s Cooperative Resource Management

Initiative, MUCF provided nearly 300 urban assists for

tree planting and technical advice. MUCF has also

developed and supported other statewide projects,

including the Home Depot Tool Bank and Keep Michigan

Beautiful programs. These programs, administered by

the volunteer coordinator, provide tools for tree care

and planting and provide education for maintaining

healthy and sustainable natural resources. More 

than 20 communities were assisted through these

programs in 2002.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 510

Number of communities assisted: 362

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

4,239

Number of trees planted (trees/seedlings): 8,481/52,000

Number of Tree City USA communities: 78

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 13

Contact

Kevin T. Sayers 

Department of Natural Resources 

Stevens T. Mason Building 

P.O. Box 30452 

Lansing, MI 48909-7952 

517–241–4632 (phone)

517–373–2443 (fax)

e-mail: sayersk@michigan.gov 

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

Michigan
57

Program Overview

Minnesota U&CF is a cooperative effort among many

entities including Federal, State, local, nonprofit, and

volunteer organizations. The Department of Natural

Resource (DNR) U&CF Program seeks to strengthen

advocacy by local leaders and to increase the capacity

of local units of government to manage their community

forest resources appropriately.

Program Accomplishments

Using Federal pass-through funds, the University of

Minnesota (U of MN) College of Natural Resources (CNR)

created a full-time position to support dissemination

of research-based information, training of citizen 

volunteer Tree Care Advisors (TCAs), and updating

and linking key Web sites in the State. This technician

is vital to the coordination of technology transfer

among principle partner agencies and organizations.

In FY 2002, TCAs began to accept leadership roles 

in the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Council. 

The new council president, co-chair of the Legislative

Subcommittee, and editor of the e-newsletter are all

graduates of the TCA Program. Their citizen perspective

is proving invaluable in council meeting discussions 

of U&CF issues and in guiding the council’s strategic

planning.

DNR Forestry staff helped initiate several volunteer

tree planting projects by collaborating with the

Greenspace Partners, an organization of neighborhood

groups in the Phillips and Powderhorn areas just

south of downtown Minneapolis. The Greenspace

Partners also began to clean up and landscape vacant

lots that had become garbage-dumping sites. 

The Greenspace Partners are part of the larger Twin

Cities Greening Coalition (of non-profit organizations),

which supports grassroots environmental improvement

activities in diverse, inner-city neighborhoods in both

Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Over the past 5 years, U of MN researchers and the

DNR have collected data from cities and performed

autopsies on hundreds of wind-damaged and downed

trees. Deep planting, resulting in stem girdling roots,

was identified as the leading cause of whole tree failure.

This work resulted in two publications and a companion

video in English and Spanish, A Practitioner’s Guide to

Stem Girdling Roots of Trees. 

A project in the city of Red Wing led to the collection

and integration of key road information, including road

surfaces, traffic control signs, and street trees, into one

database available to all city departments. Using a

Minnesota ReLeaf matching grant, the city adapted 

an existing database program for road surface 

characteristics to include data on street trees and

planting spaces, resulting in the systematic monitoring

and maintenance of public trees. In the process, summer

workers were trained to collect and enter data, and the

city staff was trained to assess risk of tree failures.

Tree work orders and maintenance records are being

integrated to provide for continuous updating. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 455

Number of communities assisted: 96

Hours of training provided: 14,755

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

1,667

Number of Tree City USA communities: 120

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 12

Contact

Ken Holman

State Urban Forestry Coordinator

MN DNR Forestry

500 Lafayette Road, Box 44

St. Paul, MN 55155

651–296–9110 (phone)

651–296–5459 (fax)

e-mail: ken.holman@dnr.state.mn.us

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry

Minnesota
58

Program Overview

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) 

continues to promote and support U&CF activities

statewide. The MDC assists communities in developing

sustainable U&CF programs through community

enabling grants, promotion and coordination of 

volunteer-driven U&CF programs, local coordination

of the Tree City USA Program, and the Missouri

Community Forestry Council.

Program Accomplishments

Working closely with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, contracted

to provide State volunteer coordination in U&CF, MDC

supported new and existing volunteer groups with

technical and financial assistance. For example, the

Treekeepers Program, which trains and utilizes volunteers

for community tree maintenance, was active in

Springfield, Branson, St. Joseph, and Columbia.

The Missouri Community Forestry Council (MCFC),

supported by the MDC, played a key role in utilizing

volunteers to educate the public about U&CF programs

in the State. A public service campaign called, "Experts

Agree Don’t Top Your Tree," was the focus for the

MCFC this year. The campaign educates the public that

tree topping is not a desirable practice and provides

alternatives to topping. Additional funding was secured

from the Midwest Chapter of the International Society

of Arboriculture and the Society of American Foresters

to redesign and reprint the brochure and poster. 

Outreach efforts through the Missouri Electric

Cooperative Right of Way Association resulted in

recognition of the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative by

The National Arbor Day Foundation as Tree Line USA.

Springfield City Utilities, Columbia Water and Light

Department, Ameren, and Independence Power and

Light were all certified as Tree Line USA in FY 2002.

At the request of a nursery with many employees for

whom English is a second language, a tree-planting

program was developed and presented in Spanish by

MDC staff.

A new and enhanced Tree Resource Improvement and

Maintenance (TRIM II) grants program was created.

Recognizing the importance of developing sustainable,

locally driven community tree care programs, this grant

program provides cost share grants to communities

for projects that help a community build or develop 

a community forestry program. Communities must

articulate how their proposed project will advance

long-range community forestry goals for their community.

The grants are available for activities such as urban

tree inventories, hazard tree identification and 

management, educational materials, tree ordinance

development, and traditional activities like pruning,

removal, and planting. TRIM II provided 43 grants this

year totaling $249,845. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 194

Number of communities assisted: 194

Number of hours of training provided: 1,000

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 3,880

Number of trees planted: 6,638

Number of Tree City USA Communities: 59

Contact

Justine Gartner

Department of Conservation

P.O. Box 180

2901 West Truman Boulevard

Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180

573–751–4115 ext. 3116 (phone)

573–526–6670 (fax)

e-mail: gartnj@mdc.state.mo.us

http://www.conservation.state.mo.us

Missouri
59

Program Overview

Natural resources are a vital part of New Hampshire’s

cultural, economic, and community structure. The

State has long been famous for its great natural beauty

and abundant resources, which have attracted tourists

and immigrants from metropolitan areas. Four decades

of rapid growth have drawn heavily on New Hampshire’s

resources. Some communities have experienced 

displacement of wildlife, loss of recreational corridors

and scenic vistas, contamination of surface water and

groundwater, and increased erosion and flooding. Many

New Hampshire residents link these consequences of

growth to a general degradation of community character.

The future of New Hampshire’s natural resource base

depends on land use decisions made at the local level.

The New Hampshire U&CF Program is a partnership

between the State Division of Forests and Lands and

the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension,

which provides community forestry assistance to people

and communities throughout the State. The Urban

Forestry Center in Portsmouth offers educational 

programs on forestry and horticulture to the general

public. The Community Tree Steward Program trains

volunteers to assist communities with public awareness,

inventories and evaluations, tree planting and 

maintenance, fundraising, the development of ordinances,

and the formation of concerned citizens committees.

In every city and town the New Hampshire U&CF

Program works to teach New Hampshire residents

about today’s critical issues.

Program Accomplishments

The Division of Forests and Lands continues to expand

its capacity through the effective use of volunteers. 

In FY 2002, 157 New Hampshire Community Tree

Stewards volunteered more than 4,270 hours assisting

69 communities. They served on tree committees, worked

on landscape projects, completed tree evaluations and

inventories, and helped with fundraising efforts. These

activities are concentrated in the Manchester/Nashua

area of the State, and in seacoast communities. In FY

2002, 60 volunteers completed a 10-week training

program to become community tree stewards. Training

was provided at two locations: the University of New

Hampshire in Manchester and the Urban Forestry

Center in Portsmouth. The training, provided by many

resource professionals, includes such urban forestry

topics as tree anatomy, tree physiology, tree identification,

insects and diseases, proper pruning techniques,

proper planting techniques, and soil/water relationships.

It also includes training on fundraising, public speaking,

presentation techniques, and field trips.

The Concord Tree Volunteers completed a street

inventory of downtown Concord using Americorps 

volunteers and New England College students. All

street trees in the downtown business district were

tallied, including vacant planting sites. All the street

tree locations were geo-located and maps were prepared

using a geographic information system to highlight

and overlay key datasets for analysis. A preliminary

report on the inventory and condition of the street

trees was presented to the Concord City Council.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 144

Number of communities assisted: 137

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

2,196

Number of trees planted: 1,506

Number of Tree City USA communities: 11

Contact

J.B. Cullen

Division of Forests and Lands

P.O. Box 1856

Concord, NH 03301–1856

603–271–3457 (phone)

603–271–2629 (fax)

e-mail: jbcullen@dred.state.nh.us

http://www.nhdfl.org

New Hampshire

A.J. Dupere, Urban Forestry Coordinator for New Hampshire,

discusses the Hemlock Wolly Adelgid with Associate Chief

Sally Collins, during a tour of New Hampshire’s urban

forestry center.
60

Program Overview

Across the State, the New Jersey Forest Service

Community Forestry Program is spreading the message

that our urban and community forests have tremendous

value and are worthy of investment. This message

resulted in many activities and achievements in FY 2002.

Program Accomplishments

Conectiv Electric Utility negotiated to have $1 million

of its recent air pollution fine money donated to the

New Jersey Tree Foundation (a nonprofit organization

working with the Community Forestry Program) for a

massive Urban Airshed Reforestation project in the

Camden area. Trained volunteers are planting 3-inch

caliper shade trees in the communities most directly

affected by the air pollution that led to the fines.

These cooperative efforts, based on Dr. David Nowak’s

(USDA Forest Service) Urban Forest Effects (UFORE)

research findings, demonstrate the positive effects of

our urban forests on the environment and health of

people in urban communities. 

The New Jersey No Net Loss Reforestation Act has

been amended to mandate that when a State entity

needs to clear a half acre or more of forest, it must

first have a reforestation plan approved by the New

Jersey Forest Service. All the trees will need to be

replaced as near as possible to the construction site

in accordance with the hierarchy of sites stipulated 

in the law.

The New Jersey Shade Tree and Community Forestry

Assistance Act enables communities and counties in

compliance to qualify for tree-related liability protection

and the opportunity to compete for special grants.

Compliance includes an approved Community Forestry

Management Plan, appropriately trained people, and

annual report submission. More than 37 percent of

New Jersey communities are either working toward 

or already have an approved Community Forestry

Management Plan.

The preservation license plate, Treasure Our Trees,

has been joined by a first-ever commercial vehicle

plate with the same graphics of a red oak (the New

Jersey State Tree) in autumn colors and a flowering

dogwood (the New Jersey Memorial Tree). This legislation

was made possible through the joint efforts of the New

Jersey Community Forestry Council and 

private-sector demand from arborists, foresters, tree

nursery owners, and landscapers. Our grant programs

continue to receive funds from the sale of these plates.

In FY 2002, New Jersey had 125 municipalities qualify

for Tree City USA status. This earned the State the

rank of sixth in the Nation and first among the Middle

Atlantic States.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 421

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 421

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 9,963

Number of Tree City USA communities: 125

Contact

Michael D’Errico

New Jersey Forest Service

P.O. Box 404

501 East State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625

609–292–2532 (phone)

609–984–0813 (fax)

e-mail: mderrico@dep.state.nj.us

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/community

New Jersey Tree Foundation Royden St., Camden, NJ, before.

New Jersey tree foundation Royden St., Camden, NJ, after.

New Jersey
61

Program Overview

New York is a large and diverse State, both in its land

mass and population. It is rural in nature, but more

than 18 million people live on its 30 million acres. The

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

continues to train more communities, agencies, nonprofit

groups, and citizens to understand U&CF and assume

increasing responsibility for tracking and managing

resources. By taking a more central role in monitoring

and managing resources, communities develop more

self-confidence and continuity in program staff and

make more timely and effective management decisions.

The program coordinator works with DEC foresters in

each of nine regions to help deliver technical assistance

and training. A community grants program funds

projects to help develop sustainable programs at the

local level. The FY 2002 DEC grant program funded

community projects to protect municipal trees and

forests and to foster partnerships, engage volunteers,

and heighten awareness of the importance of trees.

Program Accomplishments

Long Island ReLeaf provided support to nine schools

for tree plantings and workshops. SpruceUp

Workshops were held at Gotham Avenue Elementary

School in Elmont and at the Student Garden Club in

Captree. Students and teachers participated in the

hands-on workshop where the proper procedure for

tree planting was demonstrated. Thirty-one schools

have completed 40 planting projects. EsteeLauder,

LIPA, and Keyspan are annual supporters. 

New York State continues to use Arbor Day to raise

public awareness of the importance of tree planting

and care. The FY 2002 State Arbor Day celebration

was held at the Governor's Mansion in Albany, NY.

The ceremony was hosted by Lieutenant Governor Mary

Donohue and involved Department of Environmental

Conservation Commissioner, Erin Crotty, who unveiled

the New York State Arbor Day poster. 

The State U&CF Council serves as the advisory group

to the State program. The council is a nonprofit

organization, and has a part-time executive director.

There are 160 members total, with 28 people serving

on the board of directors. Goals of the council include

providing opportunities for networking between 

members and partners, and promoting best management

practices for urban forestry through education. The

council also publishes a statewide newsletter, Taking

Root, three times per year.

NY ReLeaf and the U&CF Council partnered to present

the 10th Annual U&CF Statewide Conference,

"Reinventing New York’s Forest-Creating Greener

Communities." Although the decision to hold the

statewide conference in New York City was made before

the tragic events of September 11th, that fateful day

only reinforced the importance of trees, parks, and

woodlands as places of solace in times of crisis. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 410

Number of communities assisted: 368

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 9,760

Number of trees planted: 19,800

Number of Tree City USA communities: 98

Contact

Mary Kramarchyk 

Partnership Coordinator

New York State 

Dept. of Environmental Conservation

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233

518–402–9412 (phone)

518–402–9028 (fax)

e-mail: mckramar@gw.dec.state.ny.us

New York

Trees New York has worked with New York DEC to replanting

trees on properties impacted by the Asian Longhorned Beetle

in the New York City area. (Grant-Trees New York.)

Trees planted in Brooklyn, NY, help to reestablish the

canopy cover lost to the Asian Longhorned beetle.

(Grant Trees New York.)
62

Program Overview

Ohio’s Urban Forestry Program, created in 1979, is 

a State-supported service of the Ohio Department 

of Natural Resources, providing organizational and 

technical urban forestry assistance primarily to 

community officials and allied agencies. A statewide

network of 6 regional urban foresters help communities

manage their urban forest resources to meet local needs.

Program Accomplishments

With the consent and support of the city’s parks

director, the North Canton Urban Forestry Initiative

Kickoff Event was held in the City of North Canton.

The event, which was the initial step needed to develop

and implement a comprehensive tree care program for

the community, was a component of Ohio’s federally

funded Upper Muskingum Watershed Initiative. It was

agreed that awareness of the benefits that such an

urban forestry program would provide to this community

of 15,600 residents would be the key to its long-term

success. Dogwood Park, a community recreation center

that was damaged by a tornado just a week before the

event, was the selected location for the event. Local

media were invited to observe 300 middle school students

remove debris, mulch playground areas, and plant

seedlings. The students and attendees also heard

speeches from the mayor, various city council members,

and State representatives, expressing their support for

an improved quality of life through the full use of their

urban forest resources. Seizing on the success of the

kickoff event, the parks director provided a followup

series of urban forestry public lectures. In addition,

monthly guest columns, which addressed various

urban forestry topics, appeared in the local newspaper.

This urban forestry initiative was a joint effort among

various nonprofit groups, local sponsors, city, and State

officials. It is hoped that continued public support will

lead to an administrative, legislative, and financial

commitment for a long-term urban forestry program

for the City of North Canton.

For the 20th consecutive year, Ohio was the national

leader in the number of Tree City USA communities.

Ohio’s 222 designated Tree City USA cities and villages

demonstrate a continuing commitment to enhancing

the quality of life through the proper management of

their urban forest resources.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 361

Number of communities receiving technical 

assistance: 361

Number of training hours provided: 17,379 

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 6,819

Number of trees planted: 58,374

Number of Tree City USA communities: 222

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 37

Contact

Drew Todd

Urban Forestry Coordinator

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Forestry

1855 Fountain Square Court, H–1

Columbus, OH 43224–1383

614–265–6707 (phone)

614–447–9231 (fax)

e-mail: drew.todd@dnr.state.oh.us

http://ohiodnr.com/forestry

Ohio
63

Program Overview

Pennsylvania's Urban Forestry Program faces many

hurdles, ranging from educational challenges in local

volunteer training to physical challenges in the lack of

space and degraded soils within highly urbanized areas.

The Urban Forestry Program is bringing new hope to

communities across the State, enabling them to reclaim

their pride by beautifying their communities. The program

is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department

of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of

Forestry, Pennsylvania State University State Extension,

and Pennsylvania Community Forestry Council.

Together, they provide the knowledge and means to

establish and maintain the urban forest and improve

environmental, cultural, and biological health.

Program Accomplishments

Residents in the oldest neighborhood in Erie have banded

together to create a model of community participation

in planting and caring for trees and community open

spaces. The project in the city’s Little Italy section is a

partnership between Erie and Trinity Center, Penn

State Extension, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Erie

County Environmental Coalition, Mercyhurst College,

Erie County Conservation District, and local volunteers.

A tree inventory completed by the partnership 

recommended planting sites to the city, which responded

with 80 trees during a 2-year period. Members of the

Trinity Center provided an additional 17 trees and

labor. Trained youth from the center then inventoried

existing trees for recommended maintenance. A local

artist coordinated a landscape garden and activity area

in a vacant lot. Other neighborhood groups that have

been replicating these activities include the Bayfront

East Side Task Force, Snoops Neighborhood Watch,

Central City Neighborhood Watch, and Glenwood

Neighborhood Association. 

Following 7 months of leadership preparation, Trinity

Center youth who had earned the privilege became

ambassadors across the State. They named their

organization the 18th Street Community Builders. 

The youth prepared an art mural and presentations 

to illustrate their activities and understanding of 

community forestry in preparation for a trip to

Philadelphia. Nine neighborhood high school youth

and four adults took a 3-day study trip to Philadelphia,

funded by the USDA Forest Service, Allegheny Earth

Force, Mercyhurst College Watershed Art Project, and

French Creek Project. The Erie youth participated in

lectures and activities, toured the Village of Arts and

Humanities Inner City Revitalization Program, and

assisted in the Village annual cleanup. The youth 

culminated their trip by presenting their lectures and

mural to the Youth Conservation Corps at Cobbs Creek

Environmental Center. New mural projects incorporated

in their Erie neighborhood will illustrate the hope and

understanding these youth derived from that trip. 

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 915

Number of communities receiving technical assistance:

628

Number of training hours provided: 25,569

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 4,205

Number of trees planted: 1,253

Number of Tree City USA communities: 81

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 11

Contact

Karli M. Suders

U&CF Coordinator

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Bureau of Forestry

Rural & Community Forestry

P.O. Box 8552

Harrisburg, PA 17105–8552

717–705–2825 (phone)

717–783–5109 (fax)

e-mail: ksuders@state.pa.us

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/and

http://trees.cas.psu.edu/index.html

Northeastern Area-High School students from Erie, PA, visit

Philadelphia and admire outdoor greenscape at Village of

Arts and Humanities.

Pennsylvania
64

Program Overview

In partnership with the USDA Forest Service, the

Rhode Island U&CF Program focuses on restoring and

maintaining the State’s green infrastructure. This goal

is accomplished through successful efforts to promote

and distribute the Rhode Island Urban and Community

Forest Plan through the mandated comprehensive

planning process of each city and town. The Division of

Forest Environment also maintains strong partnerships

with community tree groups and the Rhode Island Tree

Council by promoting tree planting, tree inventories,

urban forestry workshops, and field tours.

Program Accomplishments

The Rhode Island Tree Council has established "Tree

Action," a television program featured weekly on the

Rhode Island public access channel. Topics have been

wide ranging and include correct pruning techniques,

proper tree selection, and dramatic visual illustrations

of tree mulching. One program was devoted to the Asian

longhorned beetle in the belief that a well-informed

public is the best defense against the scourge. Rave

reviews for the stars and topics have kept the telephones

and e-mail busy with inquiries and discussions.

Citizen volunteers become Rhode Island Tree Stewards

by enrolling in an intensive course of classroom and

hands-on instruction, and by volunteering 30 hours of

"tree" service. The course is offered in the spring and

fall with approximately 30 people in each course. To

date, 323 people have taken the course. They now

perform myriad tasks, from assisting with mailings in

the office to developing a tree farm. Every city and town

in the State has tree stewards who are implementing

the urban forestry program in their communities.

The Rhode Island Tree Council’s 2002 Annual

Conference on Urban Forestry attracted 120 people to

discuss "Wires and Trees." Since many communities

are struggling with poor tree-trimming practices, the

conference highlighted speakers from States that had

successfully developed strategies for reducing conflict

between trees and utilities. 

William Ellery Park in Newport was the setting for

Deborah Gangloff, executive director of American Forests,

to present Jan Reitsma, director of the Department of

Environmental Management, with one of 14 tulip poplar

seedlings propagated from seeds of the last remaining

Liberty Tree from the 13 original colonies. This icon of

the Colonial Revolution lives on in the seedlings from

the four-century-old tree whose remnants became 400

acoustic guitars.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 40

Number of communities assisted: 40

Number of days of volunteer assistance: 1,160

Number of hours of training provided: 2,000

Number of Tree City USA communities: 7

Number of seedlings planted: 3,100

Number of trees planted: 307

Contact

Paul C. Dolan

U&CF Program Coordinator

Rhode Island Division of Forest Environment (RIDEM)

1037 Hartford Pike 

North Scituate, RI 02857

401–647–3367 (phone) 

401–647–3590 (fax)

e-mail: riforestry@edgenet.net

Rhode Island
65

Program Overview

The Vermont U&CF Program mission is to "promote

the stewardship of urban and rural forest landscapes

to enhance the quality of life in Vermont communities."

This mission recognizes the need to address 

environmental, economic, and social values of forests

from the urban core, to suburban developments, to

rural forest land. In partnership with the USDA Forest

Service, the program focuses on issues relating to

developing sustainable community programs by building

in-house technical capacity, active community volunteerism,

a basic assessment of needs, and recognition of the role

trees and forests contribute to economic development

and smart growth.

Program Accomplishments

Vermont’s grant program provided financial assistance

to 48 communities and organizations for a wide range

of planning, planting, and maintenance projects. The

program held its annual Stewardship of the Urban

Landscape (SOUL) leadership program, a 35-hour

training program for community residents wishing 

to learn more about trees and community forestry. 

One graduate of this year’s SOUL program has stopped

the practice of tree topping in her town, Newport. Before

attending the class, Roxana Bailey had never heard of

a tree warden or the concept of community forestry.

During the 11-week program, she learned that tree

topping was an unacceptable practice. Noticing that

most of the public trees in her town were topped, she

approached the town and found out the tree warden

position was vacant and city leaders did not intend to

fill it. Both public and private trees suffered from severe,

repetitive topping and were posing safety risks. Through

several presentations at public meetings, she was able

to convince the city council to reinstate the tree warden

position and to stop the practice of tree topping. She

was soon appointed as the tree warden and in the 

5 months since has worked one-on-one with city

employees, teaching them how to properly plant, mulch,

and prune trees. She has raised funds to plant memorial

trees, coordinated community youth in planting

seedlings along the river through town, and held a

tree-planting and care workshop for the community.

She is now forming a Tree Board and is working on

initiatives to manage the municipal forests, partnering

with the forestry instructor at the local technical high

school. She claims her participation in the SOUL 

program has given her the strength to stand up in front

of a group and the confidence to speak knowledgeably

about proper urban forestry practices. Newport has long

been one of the U&CF Program’s "target" communities

to help establish a proactive community forestry program.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 147

Number of communities assisted: 145

Number of hours of training provided: 330

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 3,900

Number of Tree City USA communities (or equivalent): 2

Number of trees planted: 220

Contact

Danielle Fitzko

Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation

103 S. Main Street, Bldg. 10 South

Waterbury, VT 05671–0601

802–241–3673 (phone)

802–244–1481 (phone)

e-mail : dfitzko@fpr.anr.state.vt.us

http://www.vtcommunityforestry.org

Vermont
66

Program Overview

The West Virginia U&CF Program provides technical

assistance to municipal governments in the long-term

care of trees on public property. Three positions now

comprise the urban forestry staff and deliver the program

statewide. The program helps cities and towns develop

guidelines for tree maintenance, form citizen-based

tree boards, and advocate sustained tree care.

Additional support is offered in the inventory 

and assessment of all public trees to help develop

management plans to guide the efficient allocation of local

staff and financial resources. The West Virginia U&CF

Program helps communities develop these skills

through training, educational material, and personal

contacts, and also provides financial support. 

Program Acomplishments

The U&CF Program produced several new educational

and technical products in FY 2002. Examples include

a Trees for Cities and Communities brochure, diagrammed

planting instructions for volunteers participating in

the National Tree Trust and Mountaineer Treeways

programs, fact sheets for community tree boards covering

many aspects of care, and workshop presentations on

topics such as proper pruning techniques.

The program also provided technical assistance to the

following eight cities and towns in the State’s Eastern

Panhandle: Bolivar, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry,

Keyser, Martinsburg, Moorefield, Ranson, and

Wardensville. These communities are at various levels

of urban forestry program development, but share

some common tree care needs such as significant

conflicts between trees and utility lines. Municipal

governments and electric utilities in this region of the

State have forged new and stronger partnerships,

resulting in agreements to replace large, declining

trees under overhead utility lines.

As a result of program assistance, the town of

Moorefield has a new tree board and is working on 

an ordinance requiring trees to be installed in newly

established parking lots. In addition, an educational

trail in Town Park received direct assistance in the

removal of trees in hazardous condition. 

The West Virginia U&CF Program’s increased staff

capacity will enable the program to address the complex

urban forestry issues that the State faces. Those issues

range from urban sprawl and development to proper

tree care and advanced municipal tree ordinances.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 51

Number of communities receiving assistance: 51

Number of hours of training provided: 128

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program: 210

Number of trees planted: 1,909

Number of Tree City USA communities: 13

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 4

Contact

Robert Hannah

Urban Forestry Coordinator

West Virginia Division of Forestry

Rt. 2, Box 1100

Fairmont, WV 26554

304–367–2793 (phone)

304–367–2795 (fax)

West Virginia

West Virginia Division of Forestry, U&CF Program hosted

many workshops in 2002, including this pruning workshop

in Moorefield, WV.
67

Program Overview

Wisconsin’s urban forest resource covers more than

1.7 million acres and is home to more than 4.3 million

people. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

provides urban forestry assistance to local governments,

nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and other

interested groups through the Urban Forestry Working

Group led by a State coordinator, six regional 

coordinators, and three half-time assistants. This group,

in partnership with the Wisconsin Urban Forestry

Council, develops statewide policy and implements it

through a team approach. 

Program Accomplishments

Wisconsin, partnered with USDA Forest Service Forest

Health Monitoring, joined with three other States to

pilot two new Urban Forest Health Monitoring protocols.

The intent of the protocols is to standardize methods

of assessing the urban forest resource to enable 

science-based decisionmaking and planning. Stage

one assessed the entire resource across ownerships,

duplicating the Forest Inventory and Assessment (FIA)

plot design. Stage two assessed only urban street

rights-of-way where communities have the most 

management authority. Data from these pilots will

help refine the protocols and develop methods to

implement them nationally. Wisconsin provides 50/50

cost-share urban forestry grants using State and

Federal funds. In FY 2002, 61 grants were awarded to

local government and nonprofit groups.

The urban forestry program revised its strategic plan

in a successful effort to update its goals and objectives,

establish more specific performance measures, and

improve its usefulness. Responding to the findings of

the DNR’s multiyear urban forestry program study,

the plan not only identifies new directions and partners,

but also contains a detailed implementation plan and

specific output and outcome-based performance

measures for each of its seven goals.

Urban forestry’s flagship publication, The Forest Where

We Live, was revised and republished. This 16-page,

full-color bulletin was featured as a center supplement

to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine, which

has more than 400,000 readers. An additional 25,000

copies were reprinted to use as the foundation for

technical and public awareness efforts. In a more

local effort, urban forestry was featured in Wisconsin

Forests Forever 2002, an annual supplement in the

Wausau Daily Herald, in an effort to integrate urban

forestry with traditional forestry in the northcentral

part of the State.

FY 2002 marked the 10th anniversary of the DNR

partnership with the Wisconsin Arborist Association

(WAA) to conduct an annual conference and trade

show. In 1992, the WAA annual conference attracted

about 250 attendees and 30 show vendors. Currently,

the combined annual and urban forestry conference

boasts 600 participants and 60 trade show vendors.

With 139 Tree City USA communities, Wisconsin ranks

3rd in the Nation. The 30 Tree City USA Growth Awards

rank it 4th in the Nation. All five of the Wisconsin

investor-owned utilities, plus two electric co-ops and

one municipal utility, achieved Tree Line USA, which

ranks it 1st in the Nation, tied only with Texas.

Statistical Highlights

Number of participating communities: 290

Number of communities assisted: 216

Number of hours of training provided: 4,906

Number of days of volunteer assistance to program:

2,450

Number of Tree City USA communities: 139

Number of Tree City USA Growth Awards: 30

Contact

Dick Rideout

Department of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707

608–267–0843 (phone)

608–266–8576 (fax)

e-mail: richard.rideout@dnr.state.wi.us

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/uf/

Wisconsin

69

Congressional earmarks are funds designated to 

specific organizations, with congressional support, 

to implement Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF)

programmatic activities in specific States. These 

partnering organizations assist State and Federal

agencies with implementing the goals and objectives 

of the overall program. 

Metropolitan areas are home to 80 percent of the

Nation’s population, as well as one-quarter of

the Nation’s total tree canopy of approximately

74.4 billion trees.

Earmarks

71

Program Overview

With funding from FY 2001, the Northeast

Pennsylvania Urban Forestry Program continued to

enhance communities in FY 2002 by improving and

restoring the health of trees, forests, and green

spaces, thus making the communities more livable.

Earmarked as a special program by Congressman Don

Sherwood, the program was directed by the USDA

Forest Service, in partnership with the Pennsylvania

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

through the Pennsylvania State Forester. Since 1995,

the program has provided opportunities for integrating

social and economic efforts with natural resource

improvements through partnership building. Support

has fostered community awareness and participation

in stewardship-based activities on a regional scale and

contributed to quality of life improvements. 

Key Issues

• A changing economy and community infrastructure

resulting from a decline in the mining-based industry

and a rise in the tourism industry.

• A need for outreach and education to reverse a 

legacy of natural resource exploitation and exportation.

• Declining water, forest, and open space resources 

resulting from past and current land uses.

• A need for comprehensive planning that addresses 

natural resource issues.

Program Accomplishments

Tree Plantings

Generated 596 volunteer days working with 189 partners who helped with planting 733 shade trees, 439

flowering trees, 184 evergreens, and 1,396 shrubs in

41 communities. Plantings contributed to increased

visibility and heightened awareness of the benefits of

urban and community forestry.

Education

Provided training for 215 workshop attendees. Training

resulted in revision of PP&L Electric’s pruning specifications and training for 400 line-clearance 

trimmers. Training also brought 12 communities

together in a regional collaborative to purchase bare-root

trees for volunteer plantings, resulting in reduced cost

and higher survival rates.

Hazardous Tree Remediation

Worked with six Shade Tree Commissions to assess

286 hazardous trees, remove 238 trees, and restore

139 to safe condition. The program contributed to a

substantial reduction in maintenance hours during

storm events and retained better than a 1:1 removalplanting ratio on all projects.

Rail-Trail Improvements

Involved 21 partners in reclaiming two highly visible

trail corridors degraded by industrial activities and

invasive plant material. This support generated interest

and visibility that contributed to funding a trail feasibility

study through the Pennsylvania Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources.

Contact

Donna Murphy, Center Coordinator

Mid-Atlantic Center for U&CF

Keystone College

P.O. Box 1466

La Plume, PA 18440

570–945–8095 (phone)

570–945–8096 (fax)

e-mail: dmmurphy@fs.fed.us

Northeast Pennsylvania Urban Forestry Program
72

Program Overview

The Chicago region—stretching from southeastern

Wisconsin, through northeastern Illinois, and into

northwestern Indiana—is one of a just a handful of

metropolitan areas in the world that contains a high

concentration of globally significant natural 

communities. This region holds some of the 

best-surviving remnants of the central Midwest’s

native ecosystems: prairies, woodlands, grasslands,

and wetlands. The natural communities of this region,

which include 200,000 acres of protected lands, are

referred to as Chicago Wilderness. Chicago Wilderness

is also the name of the coalition working to protect

these natural areas. The USDA Forest Service is one

of the more than 160 public and private organizations

that have joined forces in an unprecedented alliance

dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s 

natural heritage. 

Key Issues

• Involving citizens, organizations, agencies, and 

corporations in biodiversity conservation efforts.

• Strengthening the scientific basis of midwestern 

ecosystem management.

• Restoring, managing, and protecting globally and 

regionally important natural communities.

Program Accomplishments

Urban Forestry Projects

Since its launch in April 1996, Chicago Wilderness

has helped fund more than 180 collaborative projects

across Illinois and Indiana. The Illinois Biodiversity

Basics and the Chicago Wilderness Training Hub are

programs aimed at increasing awareness, support,

coordination, and training among educators for the

recovery of biodiversity in the region.

The Mighty Acorns Program

More than 250 teachers and 8,500 urban students

were involved in restoring their local native environments by participating in the Mighty Acorns Program.

The program has grown from 3 partners in FY 1998 to

21 partners in FY 2002. 

National Public Lands Day

On September 28, 2002, Chicago area residents joined

a nationwide celebration of our country's public lands.

Local volunteers joined an estimated 70,000 others

across the country in this effort. 

Chicago Wilderness Magazine

Some 15,000 copies, including more than 7,500 paid

subscriptions, of this quarterly publication were distributed among 180 retail locations across the

Chicago region.

Contact

Elizabeth McCance 

Chicago Wilderness

8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60603

312–580–2138 (phone)

e-mail: emccance@TNC.ORG

Chicago Wilderness

2002 Accomplishments from FY 2001 Funding
73

Overview

The City of Chicago GreenStreets Program focuses on

improving the quality of urban life through tree-planting

and landscape programs. The 13-year initiative helps

restore deteriorated neighborhoods and enhances

public open spaces. Chicago is a leader in the use of

trees to help reduce noise, air pollution, and summer

heat levels. In addition, the GreenStreets Program

provides tree-planting assistance to the Illinois

Department of Transportation and Chicago neighborhoods

devastated by the Asian longhorned beetle.

Key Issues

• Reforestation efforts in Chicago neighborhoods 

devastated by the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB).

• Expressway buffer initiatives to reduce air and 

noise pollution through tree planting. 

• Revitalization of neighborhoods through tree planting

and community action.

• Protection of trees from road salt through seasonal 

speed reduction policies.

Program Accomplishments

Asian Longhorned Beetle

More than 1,450 trees have been removed in the ALB

quarantine zones. To date, 2,309 parkway trees and

334 private trees have been planted to replace the

ones removed. A total of 247 property owners have been

affected by the ALB infestation.

Tree Planting

Approximately 4,030 shade trees of varying species

were planted throughout Chicago in fiscal year (FY)

2002. The GreenStreets Program expanded the city's

urban forest by planting trees on school grounds, along

transportation corridors, and around public housing

and vacant lots. Nearly 445 trees were planted along

Chicago’s major roadways and expressways, including

key corridors along 95th and Ashland to the Dan

Ryan Expressway, 95th and Ashland to Western, and

95th and Western to 111th Street. This planting will

reduce air temperatures in summer, improve air quality, reduce air pollution, suppress and mask noise,

and beautify the urban landscape.

Salt Mitigation Strategy

The city enacted a seasonal automobile speed reduction

program in the winter to reduce the exposure of adjacent

street trees to salt spray from passing cars. Studies

are ongoing to determine the effectiveness of this 

program. 

Contact

Karen Nowaki

City of Chicago GreenStreets Program

Department of Transportation 

30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60602

312–744–7080 (phone)

e-mail: knowaki@cityofchicago.org

GreenStreets

Talcott school is an example of a hundred school campus

parks that transformed sterile asphalt land around schools

into new park space and recreational uses.
74

Program Overview

With continued Federal support through an earmark

sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin in FY 2001,

DePaul University’s Environmental Sciences Program

(urban forestry emphasis area) has been firmly 

established. The program is developing useful products

in the area of Urban Forest Health. In a more general

way, the goal of DePaul’s urban forestry program is 

to develop and promote the science necessary for

monitoring trees and to successfully restore and 

manage degraded lands in the region. The work of

DePaul’s Environmental Sciences Program staff is

connected with many of the USDA Forest Service’s

other Chicago partners. Dr. Liam Heneghan co-chairs

the Chicago Wilderness’s science committee and 

coordinated the activities of the Invasive Species Task

Force. Urban forestry projects at DePaul work in 

conjunction with partners such as the Chicago Botanic

Gardens, Morton Arboretum, and several forest preserve

districts in the Chicago metropolitan area. 

Program Accomplishments

• Environmental Sciences staff and students conducted

applied studies to understand the ecological effects 

of the invasive exotic plant buckthorn on ecosystem

processes in natural systems. Their work is leading

toward protocols for land managers interested in 

ecological restoration. 

• Program staff has published on the effect of 

buckthorn leaf litter on soil nutrients and foodwebs,

and has developed products such as a CD-ROM 

guide for land managers on soil microarthropods, 

functionally important but neglected components 

of regional biodiversity. 

• The program is hosting, or is involved in the planning

of several meetings in FY 2003 designed to open a 

dialog between regional scientists and land managers

on the best management practices for resource 

management. The meetings include an Invasive 

Species Roundtable in February, a science forum 

in March (to be held in the Field Museum), and a 

meeting on the value of natural landscaping 

(cohosted with the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency). 

Contacts

Dr. Thomas Murphy

Dr. Liam Heneghan

Environmental Sciences Program

2320 N. Kenmore Avenue

Chicago, IL 60614

773–325–7422 (phone)

773–325–7448 (fax)

e-mail: tmurphy@depaul.edulhenegha@depaul.edu 

http://condor.depaul.edu/~envirsci/index.html

DePaul University

Dr. Heneghan’s Urban Forestry class using a malaise trap for

the monitoring of insect populations in the Mary Mix

McDonald Woods, in Glencoe, IL.
75

Funded at the national level, national investment 

projects are national in scope and of regional 

importance. Although these Urban and Community

Forestry (U&CF) projects may be developed and 

implemented by a selected region, they are designed 

to be replicated throughout the country. 

Urban forests in metropolitan areas have a

distinct characteristic, challenges, and

opportunities.

National Investments

77

American Forests—Green Infrastructure

Study for Three Metropolitan Cities

The cost for emergency wildfire suppression in the

western regions canceled funding for this capacitybuilding project. If funding is restored, we will request

to restore this project. Amount: $50,000.

Alliance for Community Trees

American Forests will conduct Urban Ecosystem

Analyses in three metropolitan areas to establish a

green data layer for local communities to use in future

planning. The status of the projects is as follows:

Charlotte, NC

Landsat image acquisition and analysis is complete.

Multispectral, high-resolution imagery has been 

collected and is currently being analyzed. A CITYgreen

training session was conducted and a press conference

on the findings of the study was held the week of

March 19.

San Diego, CA

American Forests has acquired Landsat images and

will begin analysis. We have just identified the coverage

and imagery type for the high-resolution imagery. 

It was ordered January 15, 2003. CITYgreen training

and a press conference were held in July 2003.

San Antonio, TX

This is a continuation of our previous Landsat study

we completed in October 2002. In this project we will

locate high-resolution imagery to purchase. We have

secured State and corporate matching funds. The

results of this study will be released at the 2003

National Urban Forest Conference in September.
78

Overview

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Hispanic Web page, at http://www.ISAhispana.com,

was launched in FY 2002. The all-in-Spanish site 

features three sections. TheFree Publications to

Download and Print section includes items such as

ISA’s popular consumer information guides. Links lists

55 of the most comprehensive national and international

sites relevant to the arboriculture field—including

sites related to botany, entomology, forestry, safety,

and pesticides; university pages; and sites from many

Latin American countries and other United States’

organizations and departments; The Publications and

Other Resources for Sale section includes the Spanish

versions of ISA’s Tree Climbers’ Guide, Arborists’

Certification Study Guide, various National Arborist

Association publications, and ISA’s Quick Reference

Guide for Arboriculture Terms, English-Spanish,

Spanish-English.

The site aims to be the world’s leading on-line source

for arboriculture information in Spanish. The contents

of the site will be updated as needed and future plans

include providing additional links and downloadable

information, as well as creating a discussion board. The

USDA Forest Service provided funds for the development

of this Web site as a National Investment project. 

Contacts

For comments or suggestions contact: 

Mark Duff

tfskerr@ktc.com

830–257–7744

Iris Magaly Zayas

izayas@fs.fed.us

404–347–1650

Peggy Currid

pcurrid@isa-arbor.com

217–355–9411.

Hispanic Web Page
79

American Forests’ Memorial Tree Groves in the USDA

Forest Service Southern Region

To date, through a grant to American Forests, the USDA

Forest Service has donated more than 350 trees to the

Memorial Tree Grove effort. Throughout Arlington

County, VA, home of the Pentagon, 184 trees were

planted on public property. Thirty-eight trees were

planted at fire stations and 74 were planted at 16

Arlington school facilities, including the Arlington

Science Focus School, Tuckahoe Elementary, and

Wakefield High School. Other public tree-planting 

venues include community centers and libraries

throughout Arlington. These trees were approximately

1" caliper and 6- to 10-feet tall. Species composition

ranged from Mt. Vernon red maple, sycamore, and

tulip poplar to willow oak and sweet gum. Since the

USDA Forest Service provided a grant for these trees,

American Forests was able to match the donation with

private funding to secure another 184 trees to be

planted on private property in Arlington County;

therefore, a total of 368 trees were donated to the

county. See the following map and list for the location

of the public trees. 

To commemorate the plantings, Arlington County held

a press conference on December 1, 2002, to dedicate

the memorial trees. American Forests’ Karen Fedor

spoke at the press conference along with Joyce

Johnson and Bruce Serva, surviving family members

of the Pentagon tragedy. 

At the Pentagon, plans are under way for an official

memorial; American Forests and the USDA Forest

Service will work with Pentagon officials to ensure that

the memorial is properly landscaped as an appropriate

tribute to the 184 people who lost their lives there on

September 11, 2001. The winning design for the 

official memorial at the Pentagon was announced on

March 3. 

At the Pentagon, American Forests donated 72 trees

to the Pentagon Renovation project. Deborah Gangloff,

Karen Fedor, and Rachel Brittin from American

Forests attended opening ceremony along with Susan

Mockenhaupt from the USDA Forest Service, and

Dulce Pino, Eddie Bauer’s District Director for the

Washington, DC, area. During the ceremony,

American Forests and the USDA Forest Service were

thanked a number of times by high-ranking Pentagon

officials for their donation. Species composition

ranged from red maple, leyland cypress, and holly

‘Nellie Stevens’ to Andrew Jackson southern magnolia

and a southern magnolia greenback. Most of these

trees were in the 3- to 4-inch caliper range. 

American Forests and the USDA Forest Service also

commemorated the life of Richard Guadagno, Refuge

Manager of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge,

with historic tree seedlings at a tree-planting ceremony.

Living Memorial Project
80

No.of Trees Public Facility Address

4 Thomas Jefferson Middle School 125 South Old Glebe Road

3 HB Woodlawn High School 4100 Vacation Lane

3 Barrett Elementary School 4401 North Henderson Road

3 Wakefield High School 4901 South Chesterfield Road

3 Abingdon Elementary School 3035 South Abingdon Street

3 School Facility 2770 South Taylor Street

3 Drew Model Elementary School 3500 South 23rd Street

3 Carlin Springs Elementary School 5995 South 5th Road

3 McKinley Elementary School 1030 North McKinley Road

5 Tuckahoe Elementary School 6550 North 26th Street

7 Arlington Science Focus Elementary School 1501 North Lincoln Street

5 Patrick Henry Elementary School 701 South Highland Street

3 Ashlawn Elementary School 5950 North 8th Road

5 Long Branch Elementary School 33 North Fillmore Street

3 Barcroft Elementary School 625 South Wakefield Street

6 Hoffman-Boston Elementary School 1415 South Queen Street 

12 Gunston Middle School 2700 South Lang Street

4 Fire Department Training Academy 2800 South Taylor Street

9 Fire Station #1 500 South Glebe Road

9 Fire Station #2 4805 Wilson Boulevard

6 Fire Station #5 1750 South Hayes Street

4 Fire Station #8 4845 Lee Highway

6 Fire Station #9 1900 South Walter Reed Drive

2 Cherrydale Public Library 2190 Military Road

3 Aurora Hills Public Library 735 South 18th Street

15 Thomas Jefferson Community Center 3501 South 2nd Street

10 Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center 4200 South Four Mile Run Drive

3 Arlington Mill Community Center 4975 Columbia Pike

10 Madison Community Center 3829 North Stafford Street

16 Fairlington Community Center 3308 South Stafford Street

2 Troy Park 2629 South Troy Street

11 Lubber Run Community Center 300 North Park Drive

USDA Forest Service and American Forests

Memorial Trees on Public Sites in Arlington County, VA
81

Title of Project:

Sustaining Our Nation’s Urban Forest Resource

USDA Forest Service Study Managers:

David J. Nowak, NE-4952, Syracuse, NY; and John F.

Dwyer, NC-4902, Evanston, IL (Comanagers)

Program Overview

The first urban forest Resource Protection Act (RPA)

assessment defined urban forests and quantified the

spatial distribution of urban tree cover and urban tree

and human populations across the United States

(Dwyer et al. 2000, Connecting People with Ecosystems

in the 21st Century: An Assessment of our Nation’s

Urban Forests). The report concluded that the U.S.

urban forest is a significant, complex, and dynamic

national resource that promises to increase in extent

and importance in the years ahead. By understanding

the functions and benefits provided by urban forests

and how these forests are changing, better management

and policy decisions can be made to enhance urban

forest health and sustainability into the future.

Program Objectives

This special study has the following four objectives:

• To assess changes in urban forest extent and cover

between 1991 (first urban forest RPA) and 2000.

• To develop a methodology to enable continual 

assessment of urban forest change in the future 

using Landsat data and census information.

• To quantify urban forest functions and values (e.g.,

carbon storage and sequestration, air quality 

improvement, building energy conservation) at the 

national, regional, and State scales.

• To assess urban forest sustainability as related to 

forest structure, functions, and health and within 

the context of the Montreal Process Criteria and 

Indicators.

Program Accomplishments

• Obtained 2000 Census boundaries files.

• Completed or began analysis of five zones.

• Received contributions from cooperators on the 

development of the national cover map. Cooperators

are working on various other zones.

• Completed of national urban forest carbon estimates

(Nowak and Crane 2002).

• Completed data analyses of air pollution removal

by urban forests nationally and for 50 individual 

cities. Data has currently been summarized in 

tables. Publication is in draft.

• Completed data analyses of national compensatory

value of urban forests (Nowak et al. 2002).

• Completed analyses of building energy conservation

effects and associated effects of carbon dioxide 

emissions from power plants. Publication is in draft.

Final Urban Forest RPA Assessment Document

The new urban forest assessment document will be

completed by FY 2005. The document will contain

new information on the following:

• Urban tree cover, potentially plantable space, and 

impervious surface cover in the United States.

• National, regional, and State changes in urban tree 

cover between 1991 and 2000.

• National, regional, and State changes in the extent 

of urbanization and urban demographics between 

1994 and 2000.

• National, regional, and State estimates of urban 

forest carbon storage, sequestration, and value.

• National, regional, and State estimates of air pollution

removal by urban forests and its associated value.

• National, regional, and State estimates of urban 

forest compensatory value.

• National, regional, and State estimates of building 

energy conservation and associated effects on carbon

emissions from power plants resulting from existing

urban forest resources.

• Urban forest structure and functions in selected cities.

• Urban forest sustainability.

• Role of urban forests and urban forestry within the 

Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators.

• Optimal urban forest structure to enhance benefits.

RPA Assessment

Figure 1. Ecozones of the coterminous United States.
82

Program Overview

With support from the USDA Forest Service U&CF

Program, the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) will

build its capacity to support the growing number of

professional arborists that are being hired in response

to the national program. Municipal arborists lead their

communities in the education, planting, care, and

maintenance of the urban forest, so it is critical that

they have access to new and current information. 

For many municipal arborists, conferences and news

articles provide the primary avenue of continuing 

education. SMA’s City Trees magazine will publish

articles summarizing presentations given at conferences

so that SMA members who are unable to attend will

learn of the new information and technology shared 

at these meetings. The visiting forester program will

enable municipal arborists to learn directly from one

another, and their experiences will be shared in City

Trees.

Program Accomplishments

• A strategic planning process was begun at the 

annual conference in Ithaca, NY, in October 2002 

and continued at the mid-year board meeting in 

January 2003. 

• During the redesign process of City Trees, a 

National Issues page was added. Six bimonthly 

issues of the magazine were published in FY 2002.

• The executive director participated in many regional

meetings of the International Society of Arboriculture

to strengthen municipal presence and awareness.

• The SMA distributed complimentary issues of City 

Trees at the conferences attended by the executive 

director and to people who inquired about SMA via 

e-mail, phone, and mail.

• The SMA annual conference featured the following 

speakers: Karl Niklas, Paul Weston, Nina Bassuk, 

George Hudler, and Peter Trowbridge from Cornell 

University; Chris Luley and Jerry Bond from Davey 

Resource Group; Frances Kuo from the University 

of Illinois; Neil Hendrickson from Bartlett Tree 

Research Laboratories; and David J. Nowak from 

the USDA Forest Service.

• The SMA sponsored two visiting forester exchanges 

in FY 2002. The U.S. municipal arborists participating

are from Indiana and Chicago, IL. 

Contact

Jerri J. LaHaie

Society of Municipal Arborists

P.O. Box 641

Watkinsville, GA 30677

706–769–7412 (phone)

706–769–7307 (fax)

e-mail: urbanforestry@prodigy.net

http://www.urban-forestry.com

Society of Municipal Arborists
83

The FY 2001 Interior Appropriations Bill provided

funding for the USDA Forest Service Urban and

Community Forestry (U&CF) Program in Title VIII

(Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure

Improvement). Projects are selected based on the

United States Census Bureau’s Metropolitan

Statistical Area (MSA) and national U&CF Program

Budget Allocation Criteria. MSA not only includes

large urban core cities, but also rapidly MSAs will

support the initiation of comprehensive urban forest

management activities. Most activities are in progress

and status reports are provided in this section.

Title VIII

85

Region 5
86

Grants

VIII-01. University of Hawaii Botany Department,

Weed Risk Assessment Project. The scoring of more

than 200 urban forestry plants to determine invasive

tendencies, using Australia’s Weed Risk Assessment

System, was completed. In five followup meetings in

each county, green industry professionals discussed

how the landscape industry, government agencies,

and other stakeholders could work together to minimize

the risk of introducing new invasive plants to Hawaii.

A second round of scoring plants continues.

VIII-02. The Outdoor Circle's Tropical Urban

Forestry Management Plan Project. The project is

nearly complete. Completing the analysis of existing

conditions and creating a final draft of the management plan are the remaining steps and will greatly

enhance how Honolulu's city and county departments

communicate with each other and the community

about trees.

VIII-03. Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Urban

Forestry Enhancement Project. The project has

completed several key objectives:

• Field tested 10 native Hawaiian trees for use in 

Hawaii’s urban forest.

• Demonstrated the suitability of native trees for the 

urban forest.

• Conducted public education on the native Hawaiian

trees selected.

• Trained landscape volunteers to perpetuate the 

project.

• Developed an educational brochure about urban 

landscaping with native plants.

• Developed a model process of steps to determine 

tree suitability for urban landscapes.

VIII-04. County of Maui, County of Maui Urban

Forestry Inventory. The county of Maui has completed

the purchase, integration, and training on the inventory

and the Geographic Information System. The system

is being field tested on sites in the Wailuku area.

2002 Kaulunani Urban Forestry Awards

The Kaulunani awards recognize exemplary projects

and activities of organizations, schools, government

agencies, and individuals. The following five categories

of awards were presented: 

• Outstanding Urban Forestry Achievement Awards, 

cosponsored with Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

• Outstanding Urban Forestry Organization Award 

for an organization’s dedication to arboriculture 

awareness and improving maintenance and health 

of trees throughout the State.

• Riccio Award of Excellence, which recognizes an 

individual’s volunteer commitment to Hawaii’s 

urban forest.

• Kaulunani Kauila Award, which recognizes the 

leadership and dedication of an arborist professional.

• Christine Snyder Award, which recognizes youthful,

aggressive leadership in urban forestry.

Workshops/Conference

"Native Plants in Public Places: Hawaii’s Unique

Biological Heritage." With a goal of expanding the

pallet of native plants used in Hawaii’s unique tropical

landscape, this Kaulunani-funded workshop featured

speakers who are experts in the design, selection, use,

installation, maintenance, and propagation of local

native plants. 

Getting to the Roots II. Root Pruning, Rubber

Sidewalks, and Underground Critters. The green

industry was invited to participate in a 1-day training

workshop that addressed the importance of roots to

the overall health of a tree, and the new innovations

in root pruning, rubber sidewalks, and underground

critters.

Creating Green Environments: How Ordinances

Provide a Framework for Green Infrastructure. This

conference provided an overview of what it means to

create a sense of place in our Hawaii. By offering a

historical perspective of parks, as well as the local and

national "nuts and bolts" of ordinances, this conference

demonstrated the vital relationships between the 

environment, the culture, and the people.

Contact

Tresa Trueman-Madriaga, U&CF Coordinator

Division of Forestry and Wildlife

1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325

Honolulu, HI 96813

808–672–3383 (phone)

808–672–6323 (fax) 

e-mail: ttm@hawaii.rr.com

Hawaii
87

Region 8
88

Project Name

Ecosystem Analysis of Four Metro Areas in the

Southern Region

Project Partners

Fayetteville, AR

Patti Erwin

Arkansas Forestry Commission

2780 N. Garland Avenue

Fayetteville, AR 72704

501–442–8627 (phone)

e-mail: perwin@arkansasusa.com

Atlanta, GA

Susan Reisch

Georgia Forestry Commission

6835 James B. Rivers/Memorial Drive

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

404–298–3935 (phone)

e-mail: sreisch@gfc.state.ga.us

New Orleans, LA

Tom Campbell

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

504–483–4795

e-mail:tom_c@ldaf.state.la.us

Roanoke, VA

Charlie Blankenship

5215 Sugarloaf Road S.W.

Roanoke, VA 24018

540–774–6272 (phone)

e-mail: cblank8144@aol.com

Abstract

American Forests will work with project partners in

Fayetteville, AR; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; and

Roanoke, VA, on the analysis portion of their Title VIII

projects. Depending on the scope of the project,

American Forests will conduct a Landsat Imagery

Analysis to determine tree canopy change over time.

Another analysis using high-resolution imagery and

site survey information will determine the ecological

and economic value of the project's urban forest,

including air quality benefits, stormwater runoff

reduction, energy conservation, and carbon storage.

Each partner will receive multiple copies of a report 

of the findings, a copy of CITYgreen and training, and

press coverage.

Objectives Met

For this time period: 

All CITYgreen trainings completed

Fayetteville, April 10–11, 2002

Roanoke, April 16–17, 2002

New Orleans, July 31–August 1, 2002

Atlanta: We have digitized the three sites and entered

information on the design of future trees to run a

comparison between existing conditions and new

design. We have the design for all three study sites.

Jeff Luvall has provided us with data comparing

ground temperatures with different tree canopy cover

percentages. We used a regression analysis to determine

what the temperatures would be for our three study

sites under existing, revised planting, and growth

modeling conditions. A 12-page report, Projected

Environmental Benefits of Community Tree Planting,

was completed in October 2002, with 500 copies 

provided for local distribution.

New Orleans: We have completed analysis on the 

high resolution imagery and found that the city has 

a 24-percent tree canopy cover, 33 percent impervious

surface, 28 percent open space, and 12 percent water.

We calculated the environmental benefits of the urban

forest. The local partners will conduct a CITYgreen

analysis using their aerial imagery once they have

been trained. CITYgreen training was conducted in

July 2003 and July 31 and August 1, 2002. An Urban

Ecosystem Analysis report was completed for local 

distribution.

Fayetteville: We conducted a sub-pixel and full pixel

analysis of the Landsat data and have conducted the

analysis of the IKONOS satellite imagery. The Landsat

analysis showed a small (less than 1 percent) decrease

in overall tree cover for the two county regions, but

identified hot spots of decline near the airport and

Benton County. The City of Fayetteville showed an 

18-percent decline in heavy tree canopy. Patti Erwin

conducted analyses using aerial imagery of one sample

site and the findings will be used in the report. A 12-page

Urban Ecosystem Analysis report (500 copies) and a

two-page color addendum on Aerial Imagery for Natural

Resource Management were produced and printed for

local distribution. The report was completed in

September 2002 and a press conference was held in

January 2003.

Roanoke: We have reviewed the findings of the analysis

and have detailed the percentage tree cover by different

land use areas and 10 local communities within the

Roanoke area. The Urban Ecosystem Analysis report was

completed and 500 copies printed for local distribution.

Contact

Gary Moll, Vice President, Urban Forest Center,

American ForestsP.O. Box 2000, Washington DC, 20013

202–955–4500, ext. 220 (phone), 202–955–4588 (fax)

e-mail: gmoll@amfor.org

2003 American Forests Summary Report
89

Project Name

Georgia Model Urban Forest Demonstration Project

Project Partners

Ginna Tiernan

DeKalb County, Department of Parks and Recreation

404–508–7631 (phone)

Kelly Jordan

Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance, Davidson-Arabia

Mountain Nature Preserve

404–522–8629 (phone)

Marcia Bansley, Executive Director

Trees Atlanta

404–522–4097 (phone)

DeAnn Fordham

FordhamPark Pride

404–817–6761 (phone)

Amy Macklin,Development Director

Habitat for Humanity

404–223–5180, ext. 28 (phone)

Abstract

The objective of the project is for the Georgia Model

Urban Forest Demonstration Project to help community

leaders understand the need to preserve, plant, and

maintain trees and forests as an important resource. 

The following three development types will be compared:

1. Urban Core—Turner Field parking lot in the City of 

Atlanta.

2. Older Suburbs—A multiuse trail along Klondike 

Road from I–20 to Stonecrest Mall. 

3. Newer Suburbs—Habitat for Humanity, Mount Zion

Manor homes, City of Atlanta.

Objectives Met

Quarter 1

• Signed contracts with partners.

• Began site plans for Turner Field.

• Began site plans for Klondike Road Trail.

• Began site plans for Habitat for Humanity site.

• Began advertising.

Quarter 2

• Completed preconstruction videographing at all sites.

• Completed initial temperature reading at Turner 

Field site.

• Began excavation at Turner Field site.

Quarter 3

• Completed tree planting and onsite tree care 

education at Habitat for Humanity site.

Quarter 4

• Completed tree planting and videographing at 

Turner Field site.

• Reviewed public relations materials.

• Obtained temperature information from Jeff Luvall 

(American Forests).

Quarter 5

• Had conference call update with American Forests 

regarding site modeling.

• Held partner meeting.

• Sought copies of Construction Development Guide 

for Habitat for Humanity.

• Conducted video interviews.

Quarter 6

• Held partner meeting with Arabia Mountain 

landscape architect.

• Sought materials to complete video production; 

met to discuss video script.

• Held partner meeting to review brochure text and 

graphics and to discuss PR event.

• Reviewed American Forests report.

Quarter 7

• Edited American Forests report.

• Met with partner, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity on 

Educational Calendar for all homebuyers.

• Reviewed revised proofs for brochure and CD ROM.

Objectives Not Yet Met

• Planting site preparation at Stonecrest Mall.

Contact

Susan Reisch

6835 James B. Rivers/Memorial Drive

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

404–298—3935 (phone)

404–294—3591 (fax)

e-mail: sreisch@gfc.state.ga.us

http://www.gfc.state.ga.us

Atlanta Metropolitan Area/Georgia
90

Project Name

Metro Birmingham—Remote Sensing and

Interpretations for Urban Forestry

Project Partners

Trees for Alabama

Storm Water Management Authority (SWMA), Inc.

Department of Horticulture and Urban Forestry

Cawaco Resource and Development Council, Inc.

Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham College

Abstract

The primary purpose of this project is to establish a

baseline of information on the urban forest canopy

and green space in Jefferson County, AL, and to 

communicate the state of the urban forest to the 

political leaders and the decisionmakers within the

incorporated cities of the area.

This project will document current forest canopy and

green space using IKONOS satellite imagery and use

current models to determine the ecosystem value and

the positive effect on air quality, energy use, and

stormwater runoff.

A regional tree summit will be held to give an annual

state-of-the-trees update. In addition, written reports

will be given to each city within the geographic area of

the study. This will provide information and evidence

to local groups and civic leaders to formulate plans to

protect, reforest, and improve the overall urban forest

canopy in the area.

Objectives Met

Satellite "cloud recovery" imagery was received and

integrated into existing imagery to form a more "cloud

free" view of the study area.

Preliminary vegetative analysis was performed using 

a combination of unsupervised and supervised 

classification methods with ERDAS IMAGINE software.

Five distinct classes were identified: impervious, 

semipervious, hardwood cover, pine cover, and 

unclassified areas (shadows, etc.). Initial results,

reported by municipality, were calculated, posted 

on the SWMA Web site, and reported to several 

organizations including the following:

4-11-02, Southern Environmental Center Livable 

Cities Conference 

4-11-02, Friends of Shades Creek

4-17-02, USDA Forest Service review 

4-29-02, GLOBE (Taylor Steele from the Mcwane 

Center)

5-22-02, Report to Trees for Alabama Board

6-11-02, State Foresters Conference

8-14-02, Governor’s Conference on GIS

10-3-02, Regional Tree Summit

An accuracy assessment was performed for the initial

classification with 82 percent accuracy for tree delineation.

A refined classification was performed using a 

transformed normalized difference vegetative index

combined with supervised and unsupervised 

classification to produce two distinct classes of treed

and untried areas. 

An accuracy assessment was performed for the second

classification, and accuracy was improved to 91 percent.

FY 2001 leaf-off imagery was received and processed.

Objectives Not Yet Met

Application of models

Reports to cities

Contact

Matt Brown, Programmer Database

Storm Water Management Authority, Inc.

205–325–1440 (phone)

Birmingham, Alabama
91

Project Name

Mapping Extents and Nature of Forest and Water

Resources in Northern Virginia

Abstract

The primary objective of the proposal is to provide 

private and public stakeholders with highly accurate

Geographic Information System (GIS) data that 

quantifies the historic and current extents and nature

of Northern Virginia’s forest, wetland, and water

resources on an individual watershed basis. 

Other objectives include the following:

• To provide analytical tools and data that will enable

stakeholders to identify and communicate the 

effects of urbanization trends on existing forest, 

wetland, and water resources within the context of 

regional and local land-use planning processes. 

• To foster dialog and collaboration among local 

stakeholders and encourage multijurisdictional 

efforts to accomplish the goals of the Chesapeake 

2000 Agreement.

• To establish baseline data necessary for formulating

individual watershed management plans.

Objectives Met

• Partnered with Fairfax County GIS Office to 

coordinate use of GIS/GPS software and computer 

equipment.

• Acquired 1995 and 2000 10-meter SPOT satellite 

imagery (pro bono).

• Produced year 1995 and 2000 tree cover benchmark

analysis for study area.

• Identified ground truthing areas needed for entire 

study area to establish initial database of reflective 

values.

• Met with Fairfax County Park Authority staff and 

Prince William County to devise data collection 

methodology.

• Finalized data collection methodology and generated

needed forms and databases to record data.

• Completed training of Urban Forestry Division 

Staff, Park Authority Naturalist Staff, Huntley 

Meadows Park Volunteers, and Prince William 

County Arborist in data collection methodology. 

• Completed data collection and GPS location of 165 

of 210 data collection points.

• Worked with Fairfax County Department of 

Purchasing and Supply Management to develop 

sole source contract with DigitalGlobe Service, Inc.,

to purchase satellite imagery.

• Acquired 450 km2 (covers Eastern Fairfax County, 

Arlington County, and City Of Alexandria) of the 

total 2,106 km2 of needed 2.6-meter multispectral 

satellite imagery.

• Partnered with Virginia Tech forestry graduate 

student (working on Master’s degree) to begin 

identifying known National Vegetation Classification 

Standards (NVCS) vegetation communities that are 

present in Northern Virginia.

• Began GIS analysis, correlating reflective values of 

satellite imagery to georeferenced field data in 450 

km2 of study area.

• Contracted with DigitalGlobe to acquire remaining 

1,656 km2 of satellite imagery by summer/fall of 

FY 2004.

Objectives Not Yet Met

• Acquisition of 1990 SPOT 10-meter satellite imagery.

• Production of the1990 tree cover analysis for study area.

• Acquisition of 1,656 km2 of 2.6-meter multispectral

satellite imagery of the total 2,106 km2 needed.

• Production of NVCS mapping for study area broken

down into 67 major watersheds.

• Production of environmental and socioeconomic 

benefits report.

Contact

Mike Knapp, Director of Urban Forester

Fairfax County Department of Public Works and

Environmental Services

12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 518

Fairfax, VA 22035

703–324–1770 (phone)

703–803–7769 (fax)

e-mail: michael.knapp@co.fairfax.va.us

Fairfax County Metro Area, Virginia
92

Project Name

Northwest Regional Airport Urban Ecosystem Analysis

Project Partners

American Forests

Gary Moll

P.O. Box 2000

Washington, DC, 20013

202 –955 –4500 (phone)

City of Fayetteville

Kim Hesse

113 W. Mountain

Fayetteville, AR 72701

501 –575 –8308 (phone)

Abstract

The objective of the project is to produce a working

document for local governments and organizations

involved in the planning for northwest Arkansas. The

information in this document will identify existing

watersheds and canopy cover in and around the airport

and surrounding communities. A 3-D simulation of

images will depict the loss of forest cover, due to land

changes, over the last 20 to 30 years. The analysis

will also include the dollar value of the tree cover in

terms of air and water quality and energy savings.

Communities will be able to visualize how growth has

affected their natural resources; they will have a better

understanding of the benefits trees provide, and they

will have guidelines for addressing future growth

management issues in relationship to their natural

resources.

Objectives Met

Completed CITYgreen trainings

Fayetteville April 10–11, 2002

Presentation of findings to local governments by

American Forests.

Contact

Patti Erwin

2780 North Garland Avenue

Fayetteville, AR 72704

501 –442 –8627 (phone)

501 –442 –2117 (fax)

e-mail: perwin@arkansasusa.com

Fayetteville Area, Arkansas
93

Project Name

Assessment of Urban Forest Cover and Structure in

the Greenville-Spartanburg Metropolitan Area:

Implications and Opportunities for Local Policy

Changes

Project Partners

South Carolina Forestry Commission

Liz Gilland

5500 Broad River Road

Columbia, SC 29212

864 –896 –8864 (phone)

Pinnacle Consulting Group

Dave Hargett

Suite 301, 1 Augusta Street

Greenville, SC 29601

864 –467 –0431, ext. 13 (phone)

Strom Thurmond Institute

Jeff Allen

Clemson University, Perimeter Road

Clemson, SC 29634

864 –656 –0228 (phone)

Upstate Forever

Brad Wyche

P.O. Box 2308

Greenville, SC 29602

864 –250 –1027 (phone)

USDA Forest Service

Dave Nowak

5 Moon Library, SUNY-CESF

Syracuse, NY 13210

315 –448 –3212 (phone)

Abstract

The Interstate 85 corridor in northwestern South

Carolina has experienced explosive growth over the

past 20 years. During that period, the rate of land

conversion to urban uses has been estimated to be

greater than 200 percent. This project will assess the

urban forest resources of the Greenville-Spartanburg

(GSP) urban growth corridor along Interstate 85.

Within this corridor, the assessment will provide a

base understanding of these resources and how they

change over time. The 750-square mile study area

includes all key municipalities in the corridor, plus a

window of 5 miles on either side of Interstate 85. The

project will (1) describe and quantify the urban forest

structure; (2) document changes in forest cover over

time; (3) evaluate the effects of those changes; 

(4) establish baseline information and permanent

inventory plots for future assessments; (5) use the

results to inform and educate public policymakers,

the private sector, and the public; and (6) be used to

produce a strategy for mitigating past problems and

conserving existing urban natural resources. The study

area currently includes many urban forest fragments,

including many sensitive components associated with

critical riparian zones. Many of these forest remnants

have significant potential for protection and 

enhancement through public green space programs,

provided management programs are developed and

implemented soon.

Objectives Met

Orthorectified mosaics of the study area have been

developed from the 1981, 1989, and 1999 aerial 

photographs. These have been used to "train" the

Landsat images for the different coverages being 

analyzed. In the study area, 100 permanent plot sites

were randomly selected according to the protocol

developed by Nowak’s research unit. Plot and tree

data have been collected according to the Syracuse

protocol. Data are being "cleaned up" for use in the

UFORE model. One animated visual "fly-over" of a

portion of the study area has been created to contrast

1981 to 1999 conditions. The fly-over and PowerPoint®

presentations have been used to present information

about the project to a southern regional urban

forestry workshop, the South Carolina U&CF

Conference, and local county officials.

Objectives Not Yet Met

Data analysis, modeling, additional visualization, and

Web-based products.

Contact

Donald L. Ham

272 Lehotsky Hall, Box 34-0331

Clemson, SC 29634-0331

864 –656 –2480 (phone)

864 –656 –4786 (fax)

e-mail: dham@clemson.edu

Greenville/Spartanburg Metropolitan Area, South Carolina
94

Project Name

Houston Green—Building Houston’s Green

Infrastructure

Project Partners

USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research

Station

David J. Nowak, Project Leader

c/o SUNY ESF, 5 Moon Library

Syracuse, NY 13210

315 –448 –3212 (phone)

315 –448 –3216 (fax)

e-mail:dnowak@fs.fed.us

Houston Advanced Research Center

John M. Hill,Vice President

Environmental/Information Systems

4800 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77381

281 –363 –7999 (phone)

281 –363 –7931 (fax); 

e-mail: jhill@harc.edu

Texas Natural Resources and Conservation

Commission

Mark Estes, Atmospheric Scientist

TNRCC Technical Analysis Division

Austin, TX 787441; 512–239–6049 (phone)

512–239–1500 (fax)

e-mail: mestes@tnrcc.state.tx.us

Houston Green Coalition

Mickey Merritt, Regional Urban Forester

Texas Forest Service, P.O. Box 691184

Houston, TX 77269

713 –688 –8931 (phone)

713 –688 –8947 (fax)

e-mail: tfshou@swbell.net

Abstract

The Houston Green project study area is the City of

Houston and the surrounding eight-county metropolitan

area. Digital cover maps will be produced and merged

with field data collected within these areas to develop

a detailed urban forest data set for geographic information

systems (GIS). This data will be used to determine the

effect of urban trees on air quality, to document this

impact in a State of the Urban Forest report, and to

develop new computers tools to help local leaders

make urban forestry management decisions to

improve the quality of life in the Houston area.

Objectives Met

6/29/01: In preparation for field data collection, the

Texas Forest Service (TFS) prepared a Request for Bid

package to solicit bids for collecting field data on 300

fixed-radius plots in the eight-county region. The

UFORE training manual was edited to conform to the

needs of the study and was also available at the above

Web site. Bids from contractors were due July 11,

2002, and field work was scheduled to commence by

August 1, 2002.

9/28/01: Bids for data collection came in beyond the

budget to complete the work, so no bid was awarded.

TFS took on the role of plot location and a second bid

package was distributed in January 2002, with data

collection commencing in late March 2002. Study

design was altered to better conform to the Forest

Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program plot location

arrangement, and the UFORE manual was edited

accordingly.

12/28/01: TFS contracted with Texas A&M

University’s Spatial Sciences Lab (SSL) to assist with

plot location fieldwork. Approximately 20 percent of

the 348 plot locations were located and marked on the

ground. Once all the plot locations were located, bids

for the actual data collection work was solicited.

3/30/02: Texas A&M's SSL completed approximately

75 percent of the plot location work. TFS foresters

located and collected ground cover data on plots with

no trees to speed up the process. UFORE field manual

was completed; contract for tree data collection work

was to be awarded in the next quarter.

6/29/02: Texas A&M's SSL fulfilled its contract and

located all the UFORE plots where data will be collected.

UFORE field manual was revised to better conform 

to urban FIA data collection procedures, under the

guidance of Dr. Nowak. Bids for field data collection

due were to be received next quarter.

9/28/02: UFORE field manual was completed, a 

contractor chosen, and approximately 40 percent of

field plot data were collected. Dr. Nowak began work on

two GIS computer tools (species selector and planting

site locator), and began photo-interpretation analysis

of the region in preparation for air-quality modeling

work. Future projection model to project forest structure

and effects was completed.

12/30/02: Field data collection by contractor was

completed at the end of November 2002. Burditt

Associates located a total of 177 plots containing at

least one tree and collected all pertinent data on trees,

shrubs, buildings, and ground covers. In addition, TFS

staff located another 157 plots with no trees, bringing

the total number of UFORE plots to 334. Raw data

was sent to Dr. Nowak for processing in the UFORE

model. Outputs will be coordinated with modelers

contracted by Texas Commission on Environmental

Quality (formerly TNRCC) to allow air-quality modeling

to move forward in the spring of 2003. Field Data

Collection objective is now complete.

Houston, Texas
95

Objectives Not Yet Met

All of the objectives, except for the Field Data

Collection.

Contacts

John Giedraitis, State Urban Forestry Coordinator

Texas Forest Service

309 Tarrow Drive, Suite 364

College Station, TX 77840-7896

979 –458 –6650 (phone)

979 –458 –6655 (fax)

e-mail: jpg@tfs.tamu.edu

Pete Smith, State Urban Forestry Partnership

Coordinator

Texas Forest Service

Tarrow Drive, Suite 364

College Station, TX 77840-7896

979 –458 –6650 (phone)

979 –458 –6655 (fax)

e-mail: pds@tfs.tamu.edu

Mickey Merritt, Houston Urban Forestry Coordinator

Texas Forest Service

Tarrow Drive, Suite 364

College Station, TX 77840-7896

713 –688 –8931 (phone)

713 –688 –8947 (fax)

e-mail: tfshou@swbell.net
96

Project Name

New Orleans Inner City Reforestation Project

Project Partners

Greater New Orleans Agricultural Coalition, Inc.

Harvey Reed, III,Chairman

504–347–3276 (phone)

City of New Orleans Department of Parks and

Parkways

Cynthia Sylvain-Lear,Director

504–286–2100 (phone)

Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office

Charles C. Foti, Jr.,Sheriff

504–827–8501 (phone)

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Bonnie Stine, Urban Forestry Program Director

225–925–4500 (phone)

Booker T. Washington High School Agriscience

Department and George Washington Carver High

School

Floyd Jenkins,Agriscience Teacher

504–592–8583 (phone)

Abstract

The project will consist of the following three major

components:

1. Conduct CITYgreen analysis of the Greater New 

Orleans area and use it as a tool to expand 

knowledge about the benefits of the urban tree 

canopy.

2. Develop tree-growing outstations at George 

Washington Carver High School and at Orleans 

Parish Sheriff’s Department. High school students 

and work-release personnel will be educated to 

maintain tree-growing outstations.

3. Conduct demonstration tree plantings on up to 

three public properties in Orleans Parish, under 

the direction of the City of New Orleans Parks and 

Parkways Department. Students will participate in 

the development of the layout, materials list, and 

planting plan.

Objectives Met

The CITYgreen project is complete. Training in the use

Citygreen software has taken place for representatives

of Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parishes, as well

as for project partners and educators. The summary

report has been received and distributed.

Objectives Not Yet Met

None of the other objectives has been completely met

at this time, but all are progressing as planned.

Contact

Tom Campbell, State Urban Forestry Partnership

Coordinator

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

#1 Palm Drive

New Orleans, LA 70124

504–483—4795 (phone)

504–483—4133 (fax)

e-mail: tom_c@ldaf.state.la.us

http://www.ldaf.state.la.us

New Orleans, Louisiana
97

Project Name

Roanoke Area Urban Ecosystem Analysis

Project Partners

Gary Moll, Vice President

Urban Forest Center, American Forests

P.O. Box 2000

Washington DC, 20013

202–955–4500, ext. 220 (phone)

202–955–4588 (fax)

e-mail: gmoll@amfor.org

Abstract

American Forests will work with project partners in

Fayetteville, AR; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; and

Roanoke, VA, on the analysis portion of their Title VIII

projects. Depending on the scope of the project,

American Forests will conduct a Landsat imagery

analysis to determine tree canopy change over time.

Another analysis using high-resolution imagery and

site survey information will determine the ecological

and economic value of the project's urban forest,

including air-quality benefits, stormwater runoff

reduction, energy conservation, and carbon storage.

Each partner will receive multiple copies of a report 

of the findings, a copy of CITYgreen and training, 

and press coverage.

Objectives Met

The findings of the analysis have been reviewed, and

they have detailed the percentage tree cover by different

land use areas and 10 local communities within the

Roanoke area. The Urban Ecosystem Analysis report

was completed and 500 copies printed for local 

distribution.

Objectives Not Yet Met

None, Project completed.

Contact

Charlie Blankenship

5215 Sugarloaf Road S.W.

Roanoke, VA 24018

540–774–6272 (phone)

e-mail: cblank8144@aol.com

Roanoke Area, Virginia

99

Region 10
100

Title VIII Project

The State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage

entered into a partnership to develop a manual, Tree

Guidelines for the Municipality of Anchorage. Grant

recipients worked with the Western Center for Urban

Forest Research and Education to begin the fieldwork

last summer. Research was to be completed to help

quantify benefits and costs of "green infrastructure" 

in order to increase the awareness and investment in

urban and community forests. The project has been

postponed until an updated street tree inventory can

be completed for Anchorage.

Ancorage, Alaska
101

Northeastern Area
102

Project Name

Baltimore Strategic Urban Forests Assessment

Recipient

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest

Service

Abstract

This Title VIII project took concepts of the Maryland

Department of Natural Resource (DNR) Strategic

Forest Lands Assessment and applied them to an

urban scale, defining the contribution that this 

important landscape makes to the greater watershed

of the Chesapeake Bay. The Strategic Urban Forests

Assessment in Baltimore is a partnership between the

USDA Forest Service, Maryland DNR Forest Service,

Baltimore City, the Parks and People Foundation, and

other local organizations. 

To initiate the process, leaf-on IKONOS Imagery 

[1 meter] satellite imagery) was obtained for the entire

city of Baltimore. A vegetation mask was produced,

providing for a high-resolution tree canopy/land cover

analysis of the city. The city is in process of overlaying

site-specific land-use information (parks, hiker-biker

trails, street tree corridors, etc.) to establish baseline

tree cover and set targets for tree cover enhancement

for these site types. Further, the city will overlay 

community statistical information with tree cover in

each of 55 neighborhoods, enabling establishment of

tree cover goals and other environmental indicators

and measures for the Baltimore Neighborhood

Indicators Alliance. 

This effort will serve as a long-term planning template

for the city and partners, beginning with Mayor

O’Malley’s Paint the Town Green tree-planting 

initiative in the fall 2002. 

Contact

Mike Galvin

Supervisor, Urban & Community Forestry

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Forestry Service

Tawes State Office Building, E-1

580 Taylor Avenue

Annapolis, MD 21401

410–260–8507 (phone)

410–260–8595 (fax)

e-mail: mgalvin@dnr.state.md.us

http://www.dnr.state.md.us

Baltimore, Maryland
103

Project Name

Implementing Comprehensive Forest Management

Recipient

Leila Arboretum Society

Abstract

The Leila Arboretum, in partnership with the city of

Battle Creek, MI, is using Title VIII funding to ensure

full implementation of a comprehensive forestry 

management system. The funding will be used 

specifically to implement phase I of a management

plan developed by the arboretum’s Tree Advisory

Council. Progress on this project has been significant,

timely, and of a very high quality. 

Objectives Met

• A tree inventory for the city of Battle Creek was 

completed in March 2002. The Tree Advisory Council

used the findings of the inventory to formulate a 

comprehensive management plan, which was 

completed in October 2002, with appropriate phase

1 actions identified.

• The Tree Advisory Council continues to work with 

Battle Creek to keep the city aware of the needs of 

the urban forest. In October 2002, the Tree Advisory

Council presented both a comprehensive management

plan and an overview of the state of the urban 

forest to the city commission.

• The Tree Advisory Council identified critical 

preventative maintenance practices as part of the 

management plan. In November 2002, the council 

distributed a request for proposals to complete 

these activities. Pruning and removal of trees in 

targeted areas will begin in 2003.

• The Tree Advisory Council has initiated Citizen 

Forester Training workshops for residents and 

volunteers training sessions have occurred in fall 

2001 and in both spring and fall 2002, with 40 

people having been trained. 

• The city of Battle Creek has begun work to remove 

hazard trees identified in inventory data. The city 

has also initiated a replanting effort to replace trees

along major thoroughfares. At this time, 32 volunteers

had helped plant 31 trees. 

• Recently, the Battle Creek Enquirer published 

information about the state of Battle Creek’s urban 

forest. The article was picked up by the Associated 

Press, the Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Kalamazoo 

Gazette, several local television and radio stations, 

and at least one online source.

Contact

Anne Rauscher

Manager of Education and Outreach

Leila Arboretum Society

928 W. Michigan Avenue

Battle Creek, MI 49017

616–969–0270, ext. 121 (phone)

616–969–0616 (fax)

Battle Creek, Michigan
104

Project Name

Natural Cities Project

Recipient

Urban Ecology Institute, Boston College

Abstract

Title VIII funding enabled the Urban Ecology Institute

to develop and field-test methods for effective urban

ecosystem research and restoration, leading to

improvements in the Greater Boston Harbor ecosystem.

The institute determined that the most cost-effective

strategy for improving ecosystem health was restoration

of forest cover. The program has produced the

Ecological Resources Map and has field-tested the

Rapid Ecological Assessment protocol for urban

ecosystems. Site restoration plans are under way. 

Led by community partners, the program will design

and test policy and advocacy tools for protecting and

restoring these resources. 

Objectives Met

• Completed the Ecological Resources Map for the 

Greater Boston Harbor ecosystem.

• Developed a model field protocol, the Rapid 

Ecological Assessment, for protecting and restoring 

critical ecosystem resources in an urban area. 

• Established criteria for ranking critical ecological 

resources in an urban area.

• Created a set of field-tested legal and policy tools 

for the protection and restoration of critical ecological

resources in an urban area. 

• Selected demonstration sites for protecting and 

restoring critical ecological resources in the Mystic 

River watershed of the Greater Boston Harbor 

ecosystem. 

• Planned an annual research meeting on the state of

ecosystem resources in the Greater Boston Harbor 

watershed region. 

Contact

Charlie Lord

The Watershed Institute 

163 Higgins Hall

140 Commonwealth Avenue

Boston, MA 02467–3811

617–552–0928 (phone)

617–552–1198 (fax)

e-mail: lordca@bc.edu

Boston, Massachusetts
105

Project Name

Urban Forestry Ecosystem Restoration

Recipient

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County

Abstract

This Title VIII project provides communities and

municipal governments in the Buffalo-Niagara 

metropolitan area with an introduction to the principles,

benefits, and best management practices of urban forest

ecosystem restoration (UFER). It includes an education

campaign, technical assistance for common restoration

problems, and a regional ecosystem analysis that 

will support urban forest planning, restoration, and

management. Implementation involved expanding

partnerships of local, State and Federal agencies; 

nonprofit organizations; and community members. 

Objectives Met

• Developed a child-oriented urban forestry display 

for the regional Earth Day celebration.

• Completed working group sessions to develop the 

"urban forestry ecosystem restoration" concepts and

their relationship to a variety of urban audiences.

• Selected sites for UFER best management practices.

• Conducted a flight in mid-September 2002 for 

aerial photographs to support CityGreen analysis. 

• Completed city of Buffalo tree inventory.

• Completed city of Buffalo green infrastructure and 

open space inventory.

• Coordinated development of a Master Tree 

Management Plan with city planning and forestry 

personnel. 

• Helped develop a greening strategy to connect 

Olmsted and greenway resources to neighborhood 

business districts for both greening and marketing. 

• Presented the UFER story at the Great Lakes 

Economic Development Conference held in Buffalo 

in September 2002. 

Contact

Darlene Vogel

Cornell Cooperative Extension Association, Erie

County

21 South Grove Street

Buffalo, NY 14052

716–851–5635 (phone)

716–653–5073 (fax)

e-mail: dmv7@cornell.edu

Buffalo, New York
106

Project Name

Managing the City’s New Green Infrastructure

Recipient

City of Chicago Department of Planning and

Development

Abstract

With Forest Service Title VIII funding, the City of

Chicago Department of Planning (CDP) has developed

a database of existing green open spaces in the city

that previously had not been adopted by management

agencies or fully integrated into operational maintenance.

The CDP is inventorying the city’s new school campus

parks, river edge, and community garden landscapes,

as well as planned development sites. The Campus

Park project, for example, removed more than 200

acres of asphalt from 80 public schools and replaced

it with playgrounds, trees, and grass. The city had 

not previously placed these new green spaces into a

tracking system. 

This project has brought city land management agencies

together in a united goal with the nonprofit community.

The CDP is working in cooperation with the Chicago

Bureau of Forestry, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago

Park District, Chicago Botanic Garden, Metro

Information Center, Morton Arboretum, NeighborSpace,

and the Open Lands Project. Beyond conducting site

inventories and inspections, this project included 

staff interviews, analysis, and development of a final

management plan. On the 25 planned development

sites, 985 trees were counted, including green ash,

Austrian pine, honeylocust, and littleleaf linden, 

representing 32 percent of the trees inventoried so far.

Much of the Campus Park work is being completed

through the use of aerial photos from existing schools

(flyovers), which are then digitized to enable accurate

representation of variables such as buildings, parking,

playgrounds, and green space around buildings, 

parkways, and other spaces. 

Objectives Met

• The Planning Department has completed 4.4 miles 

of the 6.5 miles slated for inventory.

• Preliminary results suggest good maintenance with 

evidence of attempts to reintroduce native tree 

canopy.

• The Campus Park phase is progressing well, with 

approximately 375 acres of urban land data compiled.

• Approximately 67 of the 101 schools have been 

completed, with another 34 being at various stages 

of completion.

The following quote is from an April 2002 press

release by Chicago’s Mayor Daley.

"Thanks to our campus park program, we are tearing

up the asphalt and replacing it with grass, trees, and

shrubbery." Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

Contact

Kathleen Dickhut

City of Chicago

121 North LaSalle, Room 1003

Chicago, IL 60602

312–744–1074 (phone)

312–744–6550 (fax)

e-mail: kdickhut@cityofchicago.org

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/PlanAndDevelop/

Chicago, Illinois
107

Project Name

Open Space Planning in the Calumet Region

Recipient

Grand Calumet Task Force

Abstract

This project engages underserved, low-income residential

neighborhoods in a collaborative open space planning

process. The Grand Calumet Task Force is a partnership

between the city of East Chicago, Calumet Neighborhoods

Community Garden, Kennedy Gardens, Christmas in

April, Openlands Project, and The Trust for Public

Land. The products include neighborhood open space

plans for the targeted communities of South Deering

in Chicago, IL, and Calumet in East Chicago, IN.

Results will include demonstration green spaces that

illustrate the use of native plants and of plantings

that attract wildlife in an urban setting, as well as

educational and outreach materials that can be used

for public and school-based programming about urban

nature, the urban forest, and urban biodiversity.

Meetings have been held in conjunction with monthly

CAPS (community policing) meetings. In addition, the

seniors at Trumbull Park Homes are participating in

the development of a native flower garden on one site.

Community interviews have been completed with the

selection of 21 sites that will be included in the final

Open Space Plan. The task force has also begun

research into ownership of and securing deeds for

vacant lots. 

Objectives Met

• Five pilot sites have been chosen and a landscape 

plan for the first of those five is in the design phase.

• The draft of an Open Space Plan emphasizing the 

use of native plants and habitat for South Deering 

is complete. 

• A model prairie garden has been created at the task

force’s regular meeting place at St. Kevin's Church.

• Vacant lot native-plant gardens have been approved

and initial designs developed for 11 different sites.

• New trees have been planted at parkway sites. 

"We need the power of community to achieve success."

Bowden Quinn, Executive Director, Grand Calumet

Task Force

Contact

Angelina Mendoca 

Grand Calumet Task Force

2400 New York Avenue

Calumet Region, IN 46394

219–473–4246 (phone)

219–473–4288 (fax)

e-mailgctf@igc.org

http://www.grandcal.org

Grand Calumet Region, Illinois and Indiana
108

Project Name

Wisconsin’s Urban Forests: Partnership in Action 

Recipient

Urban Open Space Foundation 

Abstract

The Wisconsin’s Urban Forest: Partnership in Action

project has enabled the Urban Open Space Foundation

(UOSF) to lead a new broad-based network of citizen

activists and business leaders, public agency 

representatives, and resource managers in comprehensive

resource planning efforts in each of Wisconsin’s three

largest metropolitan areas. The partnership is designed

to create a strong and effective voice for the importance

and relevance of urban open space in making Wisconsin

communities vibrant and healthy—ecologically, 

economically, socially, and culturally. Currently, 

the Community Open Space Partnership has 38 

organizational partners.

Objectives Met

• The UOSF hired Katie Beilfuss to serve as the program

manager to help develop and coordinate the 

Community Open Space Partnership. The partnership

continues to meet monthly.

• A steering committee was formed and regional open

space forums were held in the State’s most populous

regions: the Fox Valley–Green Bay area, south central

Wisconsin, and southeastern Wisconsin. At these 

forums, participants worked together to discuss 

"green infrastructure" land-use issues and were 

encouraged to create continuous physical networks

of natural areas rather than a collection of independent

parcels. Based on the work of the forums, an advocacy

and public outreach campaign will be implemented 

to promote green infrastructure. 

• Using information from the forums, the partnership

has begun developing a guidebook entitled, 

"Wisconsin’s Green Infrastructure Reinvestment 

Plan." The plan identifies urban and urbanizing 

landscapes that currently or potentially form the 

foundation of green community-supporting 

infrastructure. The plan will provide recommendations

for actions needed to protect and improve these 

properties so that the economic, biological, and 

social benefits to surrounding neighborhoods and 

downtowns can be maximized.

• The partnership developed the Great Lakes Virtual 

Resource Center (designed for Midwestern Great 

Lakes States) (http://www.ouropenspaces.org). The

site helps connect open space enthusiasts with the 

people, tools, and funding necessary to support 

local urban forest goals.

Contact

Heather Mann

Executive Director

Urban Open Space Foundation 

200 N. Blount Street

Madison, WI 53703

608–255–9877 (phone)

608–255–9763 (fax)

Madison, Wisconsin
109

Project Name

Invasive Species Management Project

Recipient

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Abstract

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board was

awarded a Title VIII grant to assist with public education,

survey, and removal of woody invasive species on

selected public parklands and private properties in

neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The project

focuses efforts aimed at restoring the health of the

Minneapolis–St. Paul urban forest by controlling

woody invasive species. Specific project components

include completing a survey of selected parklands for

invasive species; using city, contract, and volunteer

labor to remove invasive plants; developing dynamic

partnerships among neighborhoods, organizations, and

municipalities; providing opportunities for communitybased education related to invasive species management;

and documenting the entire process for use by others.

Progress and project success have been rapid and 

significant. 

Objectives Met

• The project completed four successful neighborhood

training sessions for master gardeners and volunteers

on proper survey techniques for buckthorn. It also 

took surveys that have been used to develop 

eradication and restoration plans for targeted areas

in the Mississippi River corridor and in selected parks.

• The project has removed significant amounts of 

buckthorn on both public and private lands; 

specifically at the Roberts Bird Sanctuary (30-acre 

site at Lake Harriet), Swede Hollow Park, Highwood

Nature Preserve, and the Crosby Farm Nature Park

bluff top, where the land has been cleared of 

buckthorn.

• The University of Minnesota is studying buckthorn 

berry–invested mulch to determine appropriate uses.

• Neighborhood volunteers have worked together to 

remove buckthorn. 

• A regional buckthorn conference was held in 2001, 

and the proceedings have been published in a 

series of newsletters and magazines. 

Contact

Mary Maguire Lerman

Coordinator of Horticulture Programs

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

3800 Bryant Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55409–1029

612–313–7726 (phone)

612–370–4831 (fax)

Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota
110

Project Name

Urban Forest Management in Newark and Wilmington,

DE

Recipient

Delaware Center for Horticulture

Abstract

The Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH), in 

partnership with the Delaware Department of Agriculture

(DDA) Forest Service and the cities of Wilmington and

Newark, used Title VIII grant funds to conduct tree

inventories and establish databases that will contribute

to improved management of community trees and

forests in the most populated area of the State. 

Objectives Met

The Davey Resource Group (DRG) completed the

Wilmington inventory in June 2002. DRG developed a

full inventory and suggested 5-year management plan,

including a complete range of individual reports. The

inventory is being housed on TreeKeeper Online. This

Web-based system meshed well with the management

needs of Wilmington’s municipal structure. Many offices

now have access to important tree data that could only

have been guessed at previously. The Davey Resource

Group provided training to DCH and DDA staffs, as

well as to participants from Wilmington’s Departments

of Parks and Recreation and Public Works. Inventory

data have been used to determine priority work areas.

The city and DCH will periodically update the data.

ACRT completed the Newark inventory in the fall of

2002. As DRG had done with the Wilmington inventory,

ACRT developed a full report with management objectives. Staff from the city, DCH, and DDA attended

training for the software in December 2002. The City

of Newark chose ACRT Tree Manager software that will

be housed on site and at the DCH. This software was

an advantage to Newark because of its compatibility

with computer-aided design (CAD) data, widely used

by departments within the city. The inventory documents important factors, such as individual tree

health and species, that will help facilitate improved

urban forest health, diversity, and habitat value. 

Both inventories have provided databases necessary

to plan maintenance work in city parks and along

streets. They are providing information to prioritize

hazard tree removals; identify testing needs for tree

structure and health; guide the budgetary process for

maintenance work, including cabling, health and disease treatments, and pruning; schedule tree-trimming

cycles with the goal of reducing power outages; and

communicate urban forestry needs to city councils,

potential funders, and residents.

Contact

Pamela Sapko

Executive Director

Vikram Krishnamurthy, Tree Program Manager

Delaware Center for Horticulture

1810 North DuPont Street

Wilmington, DE 19806–3308

302–658–6262 (phone)

e-mail: psapko@dehort.org;

vkrishnamurthy@dehort.org

http://www.dehort.org

Newark and Wilmington, Delaware
111

Project Name

OASIS II: Urban Canopy Enhancements through

Interactive Mapping

Recipient

New York Public Interest Research Group

Abstract

This Title VIII project provides a showcase for using a

sophisticated but easy-to-use online mapping system

as a platform to collect, analyze, and distribute new

data about neighborhood trees and urban canopy in

New York City (NYC) to a wide audience of decisionmakers, greening advocates, the media, and community

residents. The Open Accessible Space Information

System (OASIS) in New York was a groundbreaking

proof-of-concept that was conceived and funded initially

by the USDA Forest Service as an accessible information

system to help enhance the stewardship of open space

so these areas are linked, diverse, and sustainable.

The award-winning Web site and mapping service—

http://www.oasisnyc.net—is the centerpiece of a

coalition of more than 40 nonprofit organizations, 

private companies, government agencies, and academic

institutions, including the city’s Parks and Recreation

Department, the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance,

and the New York Restoration Project. Several of these

organizations recognized the need to incorporate 

information about neighborhood trees and urban

canopy through the OASIS Web site because no other

organizations or agencies were developing such a 

system. The Urban Canopy Enhancements through

Interactive Mapping project fills that gap.

Objectives Met

Although delayed by the events of September 11, the

project’s field work and analysis component are now

substantially complete, and the partner organizations

are finishing the plan to disseminate the results via

the OASIS mapping site. During spring 2001, New

York Public Interest Research Group’s (NYPIRG)

Community Mapping Assistance Project (lead group

for the OASIS Web site), Trees New York, and USDA

Forest Service employee David Nowak worked together

to modify course materials to train citizen pruners to

conduct field surveys of neighborhood trees in three

communities in New York City. Environmental Systems

Research Institute (ESRI) (software partner and technical

assistance provider), the Council on the Environment

of NYC (CENYC), and Trees New York have since trained

several dozen citizen pruners to collect detailed tree

information. Working throughout the summer 2002 

in three Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island 

neighborhoods, the pruners collected information on

more than 400 trees. The pruners used different survey

instruments—handheld computers with ArcPad mapping

software, printed surveys and maps, and spreadsheets—

to compare and contrast the best methods of data 

collection.

The State University of New York’s (SUNY’s) School of

Environmental Science and Forestry and the USDA

Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station have

analyzed the data to quantify the societal benefits of

individual trees—calculating not only basic statistics

such as diameter at breast height (DBH) and height

and leaf area, but also the amounts of key air pollutants

each tree removes per year (such as carbon monoxide,

ozone, and particulate matter) and the dollar value of

this natural filtration process. The individual tree data

will then be included at the OASIS Web site as an

additional Geographic Information System layer that

can be accessed dynamically, enabling Web visitors to

zoom to their neighborhood, click on a specific tree,

and determine its environmental and economic benefits

to the surrounding area.

Finally, the Title VIII partner groups will be developing

a community manual describing their work, so that

other organizations can undertake similar initiatives

in other areas, and that the New York activities can be

expanded citywide.

Contact

Steven Romalewski

NYPIRG CMAP

9 Murray Street

New York City, NY 10007

212–349–6460 (phone)

212–349–1366 (fax)

e-mail: sromalewski@nypirg.org

New York, New York
112

Project Name

Addressing Sprawl-Innovative Community Forestry

Strategies

Recipient

North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development 

Abstract

This project builds capacity among municipalities and

professionals to manage woodland resources in critical

suburbanizing communities. The impact of sprawl

type development has had a profound effect on trees

and forests in Northern New Jersey. North Jersey

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) used

interviews with key individuals to identify specific urban

forestry issues that need to be addressed as part of the

project’s training and education and outreach. RC&D

prepared maps for three pilot projects in municipalities,

using a methodology that helps communities characterize,

identify, assess, and prioritize community forestry

resources. Workshops and public meetings have 

articulated multiple values of woodland conservation,

best management practices, planning issues and

options, and New Jersey community forestry law and

plans. RC&D developed a draft handbook documenting

the collected information and offering information,

solutions, and references for municipalities and 

developers. A "lessons learned" document that evaluates

the strengths and weaknesses of project process and

tasks will enable future projects to benefit from this

project’s experience.

Objectives Met

• Completed a review of local municipal master plans,

land development ordinances, and community 

forestry plans related to woodland conservation and

growth management issues. Generally, the review 

learned that communities did not adequately 

characterize, manage, or articulate their preservation

objectives for their forest resources in their 

community master plans. 

• Conducted a needs assessment through interviews 

with a wide variety of public officials and private 

developers. Summarized the results of the interviews

in a report that described the level of awareness 

and identified needs of all constituent groups. 

• Funded small projects that will improve the integration

of woodland protection and management in the 

community. Those projects are currently under way

and include a mandatory public outreach component.

• Held two countywide workshops on New Jersey 

community forestry law and community forestry 

plan development. The series focused on the basics 

of the New Jersey community forestry law and how 

to develop a community forestry plan pursuant to 

State requirements. More than 70 people from 12 

communities in Hunterdon County attended these 

workshops.

• Conducted a workshop on tree conservation and 

protection. More than 40 local officials attended a 

workshop entitled "Building Greener Communities: 

Woodland Conservation through Creative Planning 

Techniques." The workshop covered why and how 

to identify, plan, and implement a successful 

community forestry program. Workshop participants

toured development sites to see strategies for 

protecting forests during the development process. 

• Completed the final draft of a handbook containing 

existing information on how to effectively develop 

and implement a community forestry program. 

• Drafted forest maps to help towns inventory, assess,

and prioritize their woodland resources. The maps 

characterize forest types using Rutgers University’s 

Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis—

land-cover data. The draft maps included forest 

cover, municipal boundaries, and major roads. Also

provided the municipalities with information on 

areas of forest loss or gain between 1985 and 1997. 

Contact

Donna Drewes

North Jersey RC&D

1322 Route 31 North, Box 3

Hunderdon Co., NJ 08801–3126

908–735–0733, ext. 102 (phone)

908–735–0744 (fax)

e-mail: drewes@northjerseyrcd.org

Northern New Jersey
113

Project Name

Philadelphia Regional Ecosystem Analysis

Recipient 

American Forests, Inc.

Partners

Partners for this study include the Pennsylvania

Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Urban and

Community Forestry Council, Delaware Valley

Regional Planning Commission, Philadelphia Water

Department, and the USDA Forest Service.

Abstract

American Forests, Inc., has been assessing urban

forests across the country with a process called the

Regional Ecosystem Analysis. Results are used to

enhance public understanding of the value and function

of community trees and forests as they contribute

positively to stormwater reduction, air quality, and

energy conservation. Since 1996, American Forests

has completed assessments in 21 metropolitan areas.

With funding and other resources from the USDA

Forest Service and local partners, American Forests

performed an analysis of the Philadelphia region in

2002. The analysis had the following three components:

1. Regional Analysis Using Landsat Imagery. Collected

a 3-year sequence of low-resolution satellite imagery

of the nine-county Philadelphia region and analyzed

the information to classify and identify changes in 

tree canopy and other important land covers.

2. Regional Analysis Using IKONOS Imagery. Acquired

high-resolution satellite imagery for three watersheds

within the region and will use the information to 

refine the regional land cover analysis that Landsat

provided.

3. Local Analysis Using Aerial Photography. Will analyze

high-resolution digital aerial photography for selected

sample sites to further classify land features (trees, 

grass, impervious surface). Will collect additional 

information about species, soil types, rainfall, and 

land use and input the data into American Forests’ 

CITYgreenTM model to calculate stormwater, air 

quality, and energy benefits.

Objectives Met

• Completed the urban forest trend analysis of 

Landsat imagery and ground truthing activities. 

• Provided training on CITYgreen software for local 

partners. 

• Completed the analysis of the three focus area 

watersheds. The draft report is in process. 

• Completed field surveys of 10 sites for local analysis

using ArcPad and hand-held computers. 

Published study results and distributed it widely to

agencies and organizations to enhance their understanding

of the value and function of Philadelphia’s urban forest.

Contact

Cheryl Kollin

American Forests

P.O. Box 2000

Washington, DC 20013

202–955–4500 (phone)

e-mail: cgreen@amfor.org

http://www.americanforests.org

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
114

Project Name

Tree Stewards Training

Recipient

Cornell Cooperative Extension Service, Onandaga

County

Abstract

Through this Title VIII project, Syracuse municipal

staff and volunteers were trained as community tree

stewards to inventory, assess, and maintain community

trees. These tree stewards will transfer their knowledge

to their own neighborhoods to implement forest 

management plans, increase urban forest awareness,

increase resource health, and develop local tree 

commissions. The volunteers participated in projects

in county and city parks to plant, prune, and maintain

trees. 

Objectives Met 

• Visited 14 county, State, and city parks to determine

maintenance needs that volunteers could work on, 

including inventory, master plan, planting, 

mulching, and pruning.

• Developed two 6-hour workshops for municipal staff

on tree inventory and hazard tree identification.

• Completed a park inventory with community 

volunteers using digital recorders. Participants 

assessed a hazardous tree, observed its being taken

down, and reassessed it once it was cut apart.

• Provided four 2-hour and one 8-hour Saturday 

evening training sessions to 42 volunteers.

• Produced a 60-page tree resource manual and 

other resource material for participants.

• Project statistics: 25 volunteers spent 216 volunteer

hours pruning 334 trees and mulching 274 trees in

7 parks.

Contact

Paul O'Connor

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Onandaga County

220 Herald Place, 2nd Floor

Syracuse, NY 13202–1045

315–424–9485 (phone)

315–424–7056 (fax)

e-mail: pro3@cornell.edu

Syracuse, New York
Contact Information

115

117

Washington Office

Urban and Community Forestry Staff

P.O. Box 96090

Washington, DC 20090-6090

MAIN LINE: 202-205-1054 FAX: 202-690-5792

EMPLOYEE NAME/ POSITION TITLE PHONE NUMBER

E-MAIL

Mark Buscaino 202-205-1054

mbuscaino@fs.fed.us Director

Peggy Harwood

pharwood@fs.fed.us National Program Manager, Green Infrastructure 202-205-0877

Gracie Joy

gjoy@fs.fed.us National Program Manager, Technology Transfer 202-205-7829

Teresa McWhirt

tmcwhirt@fs.fed.us National Program Manager 202-205-1393

Susan Mockenhaupt

smockenhaupt@fs.fed.us National Program Manager 202-205-1007

Cheryl Parkes-Ray

cparkes@fs.fed.us Staff Assistant 202-205-1054

Luz Parris-Sweetland

lparris@fs.fed.us National Program Manager 202-205-1695
118

R-1 Northern Region (Northern Idaho, Montana,

North Dakota)

Glenn Roloff (R-1)

USDA Forest Service

Federal Building

P.O. Box 7669

200 E. Broadway

Missoula, MT 59807

Phone: 406-329-3521

Fax: 406-329-3132

Email: groloff@fs.fed.us

R-2 Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Kansas,

Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming)

Susan Ford (R-2)

USDA Forest Service

P.O. Box 25127

Lakewood, CO 80225

740 Simms Street

Golden, CO 80401

Phone: 303-275-5742

Fax: 303-275-5754

Email: sbford@fs.fed.us

R-3 Southwestern Region (Arizona, New Mexico)

John Hinz (R-3)

Tonto National Forest 

2324 E. McDowell Road

Phoenix, AZ 85006

Phone: 602-225-5271

Fax: 602-225-5295

Email: jhhinz@fs.fed.us

R-4 Intermountain Region (Southern Idaho,

Nevada, Utah)

Glenn Roloff (R-4)

USDA Forest Service

Federal Building

P.O. Box 7669

200 E. Broadway

Missoula, MT 59807

Phone: 406-329-3521

Fax: 406-329-3132

Email: groloff@fs.fed.us

R5 Pacific Southwest Region (American Samoa,

California, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana

Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam,

Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Palau)

Sandy Macias (R-5)

USDA Forest Service

1323 Club Drive

Vallejo, CA 94592

Phone: 707-562-9025

Fax: 707-562-9054

Email: smacias@fs.fed.us

R-6 Pacific Northwest Region (Oregon, Washington)

Barbara Hollenbeck (R-6)

USDA Forest Service

P.O. Box 3623

333 SW 1st Avenue

Portland, OR 97208-3623

Phone: 503-808-2351

Fax: 808-2339

Email: bhollenbeck@fs.fed.us

R-8 Southern Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,

Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North

Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee,

Texas, Virginia)

Ed Macie (R-8)

USDA Forest Service

1720 Peachtree Road, NW

Suite 850S

Atlanta, GA 30367

Phone: 404-347-1647

Fax: 404-347-2776

Email: emacie@fs.fed.us

Beattra Solomon (R-8)

USDA Forest Service

1720 Peachtree Road, NW

Suite 850S

Atlanta, GA 30367

Phone: 404-347-3021

Fax: 404-347-2776

Email: bsolomon@fs.fed.us

Nancy Stremple (R-8)

USDA Forest Service

1720 Peachtree Road, NW

Suite 850S

Atlanta, GA 30367

Phone: 404-347-6218

Fax: 404-347-2776

Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us

Iris Magaly Zayas (R-8)

USDA Forest Service

1720 Peachtree Road, NW

Suite 850S

Atlanta, GA 30367

Phone: 404-347-1650

Fax: 404-347-2776

Email: izayas@fs.fed.us

URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY

FEDERAL COORDINATORS
119

Rodney Stone (R-8)

Southern University Career Center

P.O. Box 54051

Baton Rouge, LA 70892

Phone: 225-771-5187

Fax: 225-771-6287

Email: rstone03@fs.fed.us

R10 Alaska Region (Alaska)

Steve Bush (R-10)

USDA Forest Service

3301 "C" Street

Suite 522

Anchorage, AK 99503-3956

Phone: 907-271-2550

Fax: 907-271-2897

Email: sbush@fs.fed.us

Northeastern Area (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois,

Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,

Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode

Island, Vermont, Washington, DC, West Virginia,

Wisconsin)

Phillip Rodbell – Northeastern Area (NA)

USDA Forest Service

Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

11Campus Boulevard

Suite 200

Newtown Square, PA 19073

Phone: 610-557-4133

Fax: 610-557-4154

Email: prodbell@fs.fed.us

Northern Area (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine,

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York)

John Parry - NA

USDA Forest Service

Durham Field Office

Louis C. Wyman Forest Services 

Laboratory

271 Mast Road

P.O. Box 640

Durham, NH 03824-0640

Phone: 603-868-7688

Fax: 603-868-7604

Email: jparry@fs.fed.us

Northeastern Area (West Virginia, Ohio,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware 

and District of Columbia)

Anne Cummings – NA

USDA Forest Service

180 Canfield Street

Morgantown, WV 26501-3180

Phone: 304-285-1504

Fax: 304-285-1508

Email: acumming@fs.fed.us

Northeastern Area (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,

Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin)

Lisa Burban – NA

USDA Forest Service

St. Paul Field Office

1992 Folwell Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108-1099

Phone: 651-649-5245

Fax: 651-649-5238

Email: lburban@fs.fed.us

International Institute of Tropical Forestry

(Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Magaly Figueroa – IITF

USDA Forest Service

Jardin Botanico Sur

1201 Calle Ceiba

San Juan, PR 00926-1119

Phone: 787-766-5335 ext. 230

Fax: 787-766-6302

Email: mafigueroa@fs.fed.us

URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY

FEDERAL COORDINATORS
120

The National Association of State Foresters

ALABAMA

Timothy C. Boyce 

AL Forestry Commission 

513 Madison Avenue 

Montgomery, AL 36130 

334/240-9304 

FAX 240-9390

BoyceT@forestry.state.al.us

ALASKA

Jeff Jahnke 

AK Division of Forestry 

State Forester's Office 

550 West 7th Ave., STE 1450 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

907/269-8474 

FAX 269-8902 

Jeff_Jahnke@dnr.state.ak.us 

AMERICAN SAMOA

Sheri S. Mann

Forestry Program Manager

P.O. Box 5319 ASCC/AHNR

Pago Pago, AS 96799 

011-684/699-1394

FAX 699-5011 

ssuemann@yahoo.com

project forester - D. Eric Hanson

ARIZONA

Kirk Rowdabaugh

Arizona State Land Department 

2901 W. Pinnacle Peak Road

Phoenix, AZ 85027-1002 

602/255-4059 

FAX 255-1781

kirkrowdabaugh@azstatefire.org

ARKANSAS

John T. Shannon 

AR Forestry Commission 

3821 West Roosevelt Rd. 

Little Rock, AR 72204-6396 

501/296-1941 

FAX 296-1949 

john.shannon@mail.state.ar.us

CALIFORNIA

Andrea E. Tuttle

Dept of Forestry & Fire Protection 

P.O. Box 944246 

1416 9th St., Rm. 1505 

Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 

916/653-7772 

FAX 653-4171 

andrea.tuttle@fire.ca.gov

COLORADO

James E. Hubbard 

CO State Forest Service, 

Colorado State University 

203 Forestry Bldg. 

Fort Collins, CO 80523 

970/491-6303 

FAX 491-7736 

jhubbard@lamar.colostate.edu 

CONNECTICUT

Donald H. Smith 

Division of Forestry 

79 Elm Street 

Hartford, CT 06106 

860/424-3630 

FAX 424-4070 

don.smith@po.state.ct.us 

DELAWARE

E. Austin Short, III 

Delaware Forest Service

2320 S. DuPont Highway 

Dover, DE 19901 

302/698-4548 

FAX 697-6245 

AUSTIN@dda.state.de.us

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Ainsley Caldwell

Urban Forestry Administration

District Dept. of Transportation

1105 O Street, SE

Washington, DC 20003 

202/727-5512

FAX 724-1406

ainsley.caldwell@dc.gov

FLORIDA

Mike Long 

Division of Forestry 

3125 Conner Blvd. 

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650 

850/488-4274 

FAX 488-0863 

longm@doacs.state.fl.us

GEORGIA

Bob Lazenby (acting)

GA Forestry Commission 

P.O. Box 819 

Macon, GA 31202-0819 

478/751-3480 

FAX 751-3465 

blazenby@gfc.state.ga.us 

GUAM

David T. Limtiaco

Territorial Forester 

Forestry & Soil Resources Division

192 Dairy Road

Mangilao, Guam 96923 

671/735-3949

FAX 734-0111

dlimti@vzpacifica.net

HAWAII

Michael G. Buck 

Division of Forestry & Wildlife 

1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325

Honolulu, HI 96813 

808/587-4177 

FAX 587-0160 

Michael_G_Buck@exec.state.hi.us

IDAHO

Winston A. Wiggins

ID Department of Lands 

954 West Jefferson St. 

P.O. Box 83720 

Boise, ID 83720-0050 

208/334-0242 

FAX 334-2339

wwiggins@idl.state.id.us

ILLINOIS

VACANT

Division of Forest Resources 

2005 Round Barn Road 

Champagne, IL 61821

217/785-8774 

FAX 785-2438 

thickmann@dnrmail.state.il.us

INDIANA

Burnell C. Fischer 

Division of Forestry

Dept. of Natural Resources 

402 W. Washington St. 

Room W296 

Indianapolis, IN 46204 

317/232-4105 

FAX 233-3863 

bfischer@dnr.state.in.us

IOWA

Mike Brandrup 

Department of Natural Resources

Wallace Office Building

East 9th & Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50319

515/281-8657 

FAX 281-6794 

Mike.Brandrup@dnr.state.ia.us
121

KANSAS

Raymond G. Aslin 

Kansas Forest Service 

2610 Claflin Road 

Manhattan, KS 66502-2798 

785/532-3300

FAX 532-3305

raslin@oznet.ksu.edu

KENTUCKY

Leah W. MacSwords

KY Division of Forestry 

627 Comanche Trail 

Frankfort, KY 40601 

502/564-4496 

FAX 564-6553 

leah.macswords@mail.state.ky.us

LOUISIANA

Paul D. Frey 

Office of Forestry 

P.O. Box 1628 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821 

225/952-8002 

FAX 922-1356 

Paul_F@ldaf.state.la.us

MAINE

R. Alec Giffen

ME Forest Service 

22 State House Station 

Harlow Building 

Augusta, ME 04333 

207/287-2791

FAX 287-8422 

Alec.Giffen@maine.gov

REPUBLIC OF THE 

MARSHALL ISLANDS

Frederick Muller 

Ministry of Resources and

Development 

Coconut St. (P.O. Box 1727) 

Majuro, Republic of the Marshall

Islands 96960 

011-692/625-3206 

FAX 625-7471

agridiv@ntamar.com

MARYLAND

Steven W. Koehn

DNR - Forest Service 

580 Taylor Avenue, E-1 

Annapolis, MD 21401 

410/260-8501 

FAX 260-8595 

skoehn@dnr.state.md.us

MASSACHUSETTS

VACANT

DEM

P.O. Box 1433 

Pittsfield, MA 01202 

413/442-4963

FAX 442-5860

MICHIGAN

Bernard Hubbard

MI - DNR Forest Mgmt. Division

Mason Building., 8th Floor 

Box 30452 

Lansing, MI 48909-7952 

517/373-1056

FAX 373-2443 

hubbardb@michigan.gov

FEDERATED STATES 

OF MICRONESIA

Ishmael Lebehn

Dept. of Economic Affairs

PO Box PS-12

Palikir, Pohnpei FSM 96941

011-691/320-6854 

FAX 320-2079

fsmagri@mail.fm

MINNESOTA

Michael Carroll

Division of Forestry 

500 Lafayette Road 

St. Paul, MN 55155-4044 

651/296-4485 

FAX 296-5954 

mike.carroll@dnr.state.mn.us

MISSISSIPPI

James L. Sledge, Jr. 

MS Forestry Commission 

301 N. Lamar Street, Suite 300

Jackson, MS 39201 

601/359-1386 

FAX 359-1349 

jsledge@mfc.state.ms.us

MISSOURI

Robert L. Krepps 

MO Dept. of Conservation 

P.O. Box 180 

Jefferson City, MO 65102 

573/522-4115 ext. 3300 

FAX 526-6670 

kreppr@mdc.state.mo.us

MONTANA

Bob Harrington

DNRC - Forestry Division 

2705 Spurgin Road 

Missoula, MT 59804

406/542-4300

FAX 542-4217

rharrington@state.mt.us

NEBRASKA

Gary L. Hergenrader 

NE Forest Service 

Rm. 103, Plant Industry Bldg. 

Lincoln, NE 68583-0815

402/472-2944 

FAX 472-2964 

ghergenrader1@unl.edu

NEVADA

Steve Robinson 

Division of Forestry

2525 S. Carson St.

Carson City, NV 89701

775/684-2500

FAX 687-4244

stever@ndf.state.nv.us

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Philip Bryce 

Division of Forests & Lands 

Box 1856 - 172 Pembroke Road 

Concord, NH 03302-1856 

603/271-2214

FAX 271-6488

p_bryce@dred.state.nh.us

NEW JERSEY

James S. Barresi 

State Forestry Service 

P.O. Box 404 

Trenton, NJ 08625-0404 

609/292-2520 

FAX 984-0378 

jbarresi@dep.state.nj.us

NEW MEXICO

Butch Blazer 

Forestry Division

P.O. Box 1948 

Santa Fe, NM 87504-1948 

505/476-3328

FAX 476-3330 

ABlazer@State.NM.US

NEW YORK

Robert K. Davies

NYS Dept. of Environmental Cons.

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-4250 

518/402-9405

FAX 402-9028 

rkdavies@gw.dec.state.ny.us

NORTH CAROLINA

Stanford M. Adams 

NC Division of Forest Resources

1616 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699 

919/733-2162 Ext. 202

FAX 715-4350 

Stan.Adams@ncmail.net

NORTH DAKOTA

Larry A. Kotchman 

ND Forest Service 

307 First Street 

Bottineau, ND 58318-1100 

701/228-5422 

FAX 228-5448 

Larry.Kotchman@ndsu.nodak.edu
122

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Stanley Villagomez 

Territorial Forester 

CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural

Resources

P.O. Box 1007 

Saipan, MP 96950

670/256-3319

FAX 256-3320

victordlg@gtepacifica.net

OHIO

John Dorka

Division of Forestry 

1855 Fountain Square Ct., H-1 

Columbus, OH 43224 

614/265-6690 

FAX 447-9231 

John.Dorka@dnr.state.oh.us

OKLAHOMA

John C. Burwell 

OK Dept. of Agriculture - Forestry

Services 

PO Box 528804

Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3864

405/521-3864 

FAX 522-4583 

jburwell@oda.state.ok.us

OREGON

Marvin D. Brown

OR Dept. of Forestry 

2600 State Street 

Salem, OR 97310 

503/945-7211 

FAX 945-7212 

mbrown@odf.state.or.us

PALAU

Marcello Brel 

Chief Forester 

Palau Agriculture and Forestry 

Erenguul St. (P.O. Box 460) 

Koror, Palau 96940 

011-680/488-2504 

FAX 488-1475

DAMR@Palaunet.com

PENNSYLVANIA

James R. Grace 

Bureau of Forestry 

P.O. Box 8552 

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552 

717/787-2703 

FAX 783-5109 

jagrace@state.pa.us

PUERTO RICO

Edgardo Gonzalez (acting)

Forest Service Bureau - DNER 

P.O. Box 9066600, Puerta de Tierra 

San Juan, PR 00906-6600 

787/725-9593 

FAX 721-5984

RHODE ISLAND

Thomas A. Dupree 

Div. of Forest Environment 

1037 Hartford Pike 

North Scituate, RI 02857 

401/647-3367 

FAX 647-3590 

tdupree@dem.state.ri.us

SOUTH CAROLINA

Bob Schowalter 

SC Forestry Commission 

P.O. Box 21707 

Columbia, SC 29221 

803/896-8800 

FAX 798-8097 

bschowalter@forestry.state.sc.us

SOUTH DAKOTA

Ray Sowers 

Resource Conservation & Forestry

Foss Building 

523 E. Capitol Ave. 

Pierre, SD 57501 

605/773-3623 

FAX 773-4003 

ray.sowers@state.sd.us

TENNESSEE

Steven Scott 

TN Dept. of Agriculture - 

Division of Forestry 

P.O. Box 40627 

Melrose Station 

Nashville, TN 37204 

615/837-5411 

FAX 837-5003

Steven.Scott@state.tn.us

TEXAS

James B. Hull 

Texas Forest Service

301 Tarrow Dr., Suite 364

College Station, TX 77840-7896

979/458-6600 

FAX 458-6610 

jhull@tfs.tamu.edu

UTAH

A. Joel Frandsen

Dept. Natural Resources 

1594 W. North Temple Suite 3520 

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5703 

801/538-5530 

FAX 533-4111 

joelfrandsen@utah.gov

VERMONT

Steven J. Sinclair

Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation 

103 S. Main Street 

Waterbury, VT 05671-0601 

802/241-3678 

FAX 241-1481

ssinclair@fpr.anr.state.vt.us

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Lawrence W. Lewis

Commissioner of Dept. of Agriculture 

Estate Lower Love - Kings Hill 

St. Croix, US VI 00850 

340/778-0991

FAX 778-7977

lwlewisthd@hotmail.com

VIRGINIA

James W. Garner 

VA Dept. of Forestry 

900 Natural Resources Drive

STE 800 

Charlottesville, VA 22903 

434/977-6555 

FAX 977-7749 

garnerj@dof.state.va.us

WASHINGTON

Pat McElroy 

Dept. of Natural Resources 

Box 47001 

1111 Washington Street 

Olympia, WA 98504-7001

360/902-1603

FAX 902-1775

pat.mcelroy@wadnr.gov

WISCONSIN

Paul DeLong

DNR - Division of Forestry

P.O. Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707

608/264-0224

FAX 266-6983

paul.delong@dnr.state.wi.us

WEST VIRGINIA

C. Randall Dye

WV Division of Forestry 

1900 Kanawha Blvd., East 

Charleston, WV 25305-0180 

304/558-3446 

FAX 558-0143 

RDye@gwmail.state.wv.us

WYOMING

Dan Perko (acting)

WY State Forestry Division 

1100 West 22nd Street 

Cheyenne, WY 82002 

307/777-5659 

FAX 777-5986 

DPERKO@state.wy.us

NASF Washington Office

Hall of the States 

444 North Capitol Street 

Suite 540 

Washington, DC 20001 

202/624-5415 

FAX 624-5407 

nasf@sso.org