What they are managing is the slow demise of their urban forest. There are some positive signs, including a modest increase in new trees planted along city streets in 1991, but a review of the budget plans for next year shows that cities will do less on many fronts, and tree-care programs will receive more than their share of cuts. Ironically, this decline in urban forest programs comes at a time when public concern for trees is at an all-time high. More than ever before, people are volunteering time or working for local tree groups at a minimum wage in an effort to help build better urban forests. Los Angeles alone has 40 to 50 community groups involved in tree planting.
People see trees as an indicator of the quality of their communities.
Yet publicly supported tree programs took a beating from the budget ax last year, and the trend is certain to continue at least through 1992. In rationalizing their decisions, public officials have often suggested that the choice is between funding such activities as policing and firefighting and funding tree programs. Dozens of other budget line items can be considered in finding dollars for trees. Because many city administrators aren't aware of the value, importance or potential of trees in their communities, we should not let them off the hook when they try to give us limited options. Making budget decisions without data on the environmental values of urban forests is tantamount to killing the trees.