Board members will develop a management plan that defines the vision for the community forest and guides what projects are undertaken. In other communities, visions have included goals for thirty percent canopy closure in the downtown and seventy percent closure in residential areas, wildlife corridors, and riparian buffers for water bodies. As a result of these programs, there are more parks and green spaces in business and residential areas and more street trees. There are cost-share programs for homeowners and businesses to add trees and shrubs to their properties. Workshops are offered on topics such as pruning trees and shrubs, backyard wildlife habitat and landscape design for small yards.
Youth become involved in caring for the forest.
Volunteers are trained to inventory street trees and identify potential planting sites. Forest Boards secure grants and raise money to support projects. The members have fun while involving people with the forest and enhancing the life of the community. Surely, people in the future will marvel at the foresight of these communities and be thankful for living in a healthy community forest. Homes protected by windbreaks and shade trees can expect energy savings up to thirty percent in winter and twenty percent in summer.