Progress Continues Toward Urban Forest Master Plan
Commission Reaffirms Commitment to Responsible Tree Management
May 09, 2018
More than half of Tallahassee is covered with trees. At 55 percent, Tallahassee’s tree coverage is the highest on record among comparable cities throughout the nation, according to an Urban Tree Canopy Analysis that was performed using high-resolution satellite imagery. Further analysis shows that the community’s tree canopy has increased by 60 percent since 1954, while Tallahassee’s population has grown over six times.
As part of the City of Tallahassee’s commitment to responsible tree management, the City Commission voted last year in favor of developing an Urban Forest Master Plan to help balance the needs of the community’s iconic tree canopy with growth and infrastructure needs.
Today, the Commission heard an update on the status of the plan, which includes working with community members, as well as a consultant, to assess the current state of the tree canopy and to determine the community’s priorities for preservation and planting.
Information gathered thus far from the Urban Tree Canopy Analysis, sample inventory, community feedback and other sources will be used to develop recommendations for the plan’s goals, which will come back to the Commission for review later this year. New goals will likely include species expansion and reduction of invasive species. Specific strategies will then be developed to accomplish the outlined goals, along with a timeline for achievement.
The final Urban Forest Master Plan is expected to be completed this fall.
Planners developed a three percent sample inventory of public trees. This sample was used to estimate the species diversity, age diversity, condition and suitability of the community’s public trees to better understand how they might impact infrastructure elements like utilities and pavement. Currently, Tallahassee does not have a detailed, consistently updated public tree inventory; however, planners are working to create one, as it will improve the City’s ability to make proactive management decisions.
In addition to the data, planners are gathering citizen input to ensure the Urban Forest Master Plan aligns with the community’s priorities in regards to trees. The community survey is still available online at Talgov.com/TallyTrees. It will close at the end of May. Community and stakeholder meetings have also been conducted. Community outreach will continue throughout the development of the plan.
Planners are also working to review all City programs, management techniques and policies, including land development codes, with regards to tree preservation, protection, removal and planting.
A successful Urban Forest Master Plan will tackle the issue holistically to ensure the urban forest is healthy and properly managed for future generations. To learn more about the creation of a community Urban Forest Mast Plan, please visit Talgov.com/TallyTrees.
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