Roanoke shrinks carbon footprint, exceeds tree canopy goal of growing from 32% to 48%; Roanoke, VA

OPINION: Shrinking Roanoke's footprint:
Roanoke City Council members got one of their first looks at the city's progress in its efforts to decrease the size of its carbon footprint.
Sean McGinnis, director of Virginia Tech's Green Engineering program, presented a report recently assessing the city's carbon emissions in 2008 and comparing those emissions to 2005's baseline.
The upshot of the technical report: Emissions in 2008 were down very slightly from 2005. That's good news tempered by a couple of unknowns: how much of the reduction was due to that year's mild winter and the then-deepening recession.
The reduction, a tiny 0.7 percent dip, is better than an increase, of course. But McGinnis noted in his report that council has set a goal of dropping emissions by 2 percent a year.

Tree lovers rooting for new branches; Terre Haute, IN

Tree lovers rooting for new branches » News » Terre Haute News, Terre Haute, Indiana- TribStar.com: Near month’s end, at least 150 volunteers will embark on the planting of 100 shade trees along Terre Haute’s historic Ohio Boulevard to help restore a residential tree canopy

The effort is a partnership between the City of Terre Haute and Trees Inc., a nonprofit organization celebrating 20 years of regreening and beautifying the city through the planting of trees.

City officials early this week awarded a $20,050 contract to Hank Metzger Landscape Inc. to provide 100 shade trees. Specifically, the planting will include 25 red oak trees; 15 scarlet oaks; 20 shumard oaks; 20 halka variety of gingko trees; 10 accolade elm trees; and 10 bloodgood variety London plane trees.

City gives away 3,000 trees; Rocky Mount, NC

The Rocky Mount Telegram:
For many years, three towering pecan trees shaded Gwendolyn Archabell’s East Rocky Mount home from summer heat and gave her yard character during the fall and spring. Since Hurricane Floyd uprooted the trees 10 years ago, Archabell said Monday, something has been missing.
Archabell was one of a few hundred people who picked up two free crepe myrtle saplings on the first day of the annual Rocky Mount Tree Giveaway at City Hall.
“I hope these will bring a little shade back to the yard and maybe a little color, too,” Archabell said.
The tree giveaway, which runs through 5 p.m. today, is being held by the Rocky Mount Tree Advisory Board in collaboration with the city utilities department and Keep America Beautiful.

Op ed piece questions proposed tree ordinance, cites Council champion's reservations; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Up the wrong tree:
When even Jim Ward questions the wisdom of the proposed new regulations restricting tree-cutting in Chapel Hill, you have to take notice.
Ward, a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, is also curator at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. His tree-loving credentials are unimpeachable.
But even Ward has strong doubts about the proposed new ordinance. It looks, he said, 'like a very, very blunt instrument that is perhaps overreaching what we need to do.'

Marrickville Greens issue tree policy for community-includes goal of 10% more tree canopy; Marrickville, Australia

Greens tree policy « Marrickville & Petersham-Newtown Greens:
The Greens seek to expand Marrickville’s urban tree canopy and to enrich public spaces with trees, understory planting, bush pockets and landscaping, providing amenity to residents and increasing habitat for native animal species.
The Greens vision is to encourage and facilitate council and residents to plant more trees, larger trees and more endemic and native trees and to protect and maintain the existing tree stock.
We see a Marrickville that is shady and fresh where trees enhance the urban environment providing relief from traffic, industrial activity, urban infrastructure and pollution. The Greens want to reduce the heat of our summers and help fight climate change.

Rain, cold bring down trees; Chattanooga; TN

Chattanooga Times Free Press Rain, cold bring down trees:
Wind, snow, ice and rain have affected the tree canopy across Chattanooga in recent months, the city's forester said this week.
'If we have a wet spring, it's going to get worse,' forester Gene Hyde said.
A wet fall loosened up the ground, and several snow and ice storms over the last few months helped weigh down trees, Mr. Hyde said. The result is that more trees have uprooted or been blown down than in years past when the winters were dry, he said.
But Mr. Hyde said he did not think the situation would have too great of an impact on the overall canopy. Trees go through a natural cycle, and more trees will grow to replace those falling down, he said.
Chattanooga workers utilize heavy equipment to cut trees that were damaged in recent winter weather near the top of Elder Mountain. Milton Stewart, right, of Asplundh Tree Service, holds a stop sign for southbound traffic.'If there's any losses, it would be short term, I would think,' Mr. Hyde said.

Shire of Mundaring offers trees to residents to combat environmental problems; Mundaring, Australia

Tree Canopy Application Form:
Shire of Mundaring offers trees to residential property owners via Tree Canopy Application Form.

Portland seeks public comment on proposed Citywide Tree Project; Portand, OR

Citywide Tree Project: Time to comment is now Growth Rings:
The Citywide Tree Project (CTP) continues its public vetting process, with several open-houses scheduled for next month.
Last week, the urban forestry commission received individual copies of the 755-page document that is described as a “regulatory improvement project” by Project Manager Roberta Jortner of the Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (BPS).

Tree ordinance move grows into resistance; Chapel Hill, NC

The Herald-Sun - Tree ordinance move grows into resistance: "A move to strengthen the town's tree ordinance hit a snag Monday, drawing criticism from both residents and council members for being too stringent.

As a result, the council sent the draft ordinance back to the drawing board and directed staff to return May 24 with a kinder, gentler version that addresses concerns voiced by council members and citizens during a public hearing on the matter Monday.

'I really wonder after reading this if we've kind of over-baked it,' said Councilman Gene Pease, who acknowledged his role in pushing the town toward the ordinance while serving on the Planning Board a few years ago.

As proposed, the ordinance would establish minimum tree canopy coverage for lots and individual tracts and standards for tree removal activities on residential property, excluding routine maintenance activities.

Removing trees in some instances would require a permit. Property owners would have to demonstrate that a lot will continue to meet minimum tree canopy coverage after trees are removed and replacement trees are planted."

Lady Lake's goal: Add to tree canopy; Lady Lake, FL

Lady Lake's goal: Add to tree canopy - Orlando Sentinel:
A tree canopy has long cast a scenic shadow in an old part of town, and now officials hope to replicate the look across other areas.
Town officials are moving forward with plans to apply for a state grant worth up to $24,000 to plant new trees and create a tree-canopy feel around the Rolling Acres Sports Complex. The complex is close to where commercial development has flourished in Lady Lake along U.S. Highway 441.

Town may toughen tree rules; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Town may toughen tree rules:
Proposed changes to the town's tree-protection rules would require more than four out of 10 homeowners to keep at least 40 percent of their land covered by a tree canopy.
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the changes Monday night at Town Hall. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The proposal is drawing criticism from some citizens and questions from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.
'It would appear to me you are about to go overboard again,' local builder Gary Buck wrote in an e-mail to the council. 'To stimulate business and well-being, you must have lessregulation, not more.'
The tree-protection rules aim to maintain the benefits trees offer the town: erosion and flooding control, noise buffers, pollutant absorption, climate moderation and wildlife shelter and food.

Meeting In Collinsville Section Of Canton To Focus On Trees; Canton, CT

Meeting In Collinsville Section Of Canton To Focus On Trees - Courant.com:
Collinsville is losing trees.

As years pass, the giants that residents take for granted along roadsides and in yards are succumbing to disease and becoming brittle with age, said David Leff, a Collinsville resident and chairman of the village's historic district commission.

Many of the trees have already come down — large limbs have crashed through house roofs, crushed porches and taken down power lines — while others face the chain saw.

'It's time to plan for replacing them for the future,' Leff said Tuesday.

To get the process started, the commission will host a presentation Thursday featuring Chris Donnelly, an urban forester from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The public is encouraged to attend the 7 p.m. program in Room F of the town library and community center, where Donnelly will discuss how to sustain Collinsville's canopy of trees. The talk will touch on good planning, which types of trees are appropriate and what's needed to maintain them, such as pruning and planting. Donnelly also will discuss grant opportunities available for such efforts, Leff said.

Town to hold hearing on proposed new tree-protection rules Monday; Chapel Hill, NC

chapelhillnews.com Town to hold hearing on tree-protection rules Monday:
The Town Council will consider new rules for tree protection in a public hearing set for 7 p.m. Monday.
The proposed text amendment to the Land Use Management Ordinance reflects suggestions and concerns heard at public information meetings held over the last five months.
The proposal seeks to protect the town's tree coverage without unreasonable regulation of smaller lots and homeowners, town officials said in a news release. The council has been reviewing these changes since 2007, in response to a petition from the Planning Board.
The proposed amendment would establish minimum tree canopy coverage requirements for individual lots and tracts. In addition, the proposed amendment would establish standards related to significant tree-removal activities on residential properties, excluding many routine maintenance activities.

Report issued on Vinton's existing and possible tree canopy-puts current coverage at 39%; Vinton, VA

The analysis of the City of Vinton’s urban tree canopy (UTC) was carried out by the Virginia Department of Forestry in collaboration with the City of Vinton and the Roanoke Valley—Alleghany Regional Commission. Assistance was provided by the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program (VGEP) at Virginia Tech’s Department of Forestry and by the Spatial Analysis Laboratory (SAL) of the University of Vermont.

The goal of the project was to apply the USDA Forest Service’s UTC assessment protocols to the City of Vinton. This analysis was conducted based on year 2008 data.

Tree ordinance back on front burner - seeks to align with county ordinance; Richmond Hill, GA

- Tree ordinance back on front burner:
The Richmond Hill City Council discussed the proposed tree ordinance during a called meeting Tuesday at City Hall. The ordinance looks to require a minimum of 40 percent tree canopy tree coverage that developers and builders must incorporate into future projects.
Feedback from council members was positive, but no vote was taken. A yet-to-be-scheduled public hearing will take place before the ordinance reaches the point where it could be activated with a vote from council at a regularly scheduled council meeting.
The newly-revised ordinance has adopted many of the traits of the tree ordinance that Bryan County uses. Another campaign promise of Fowler’s was to get city and county ordinances on the same page, and this appears to be a step toward that"

Long term focus on tree canopy results in recognition as Tree City USA for 11th year; Oxford, GA

City of Oxford prepares for Arbor Day:
OXFORD — The city of Oxford’s Arbor Day celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at George Street Park. Everyone is invited to attend.
The celebration, sponsored by the Oxford Trees, Parks and Recreation Board, will include the reading of an Arbor Day proclamation by Mayor Jerry Roseberry, a demonstration of tree care by Bartlett Tree Service, a children’s activity table sponsored by Oxford College, coffee and donuts, and free seedlings provided by the Covington Service Guild.
At noon, everyone is invited to head over to the pocket park on Bonnell Street for the planting of dogwood seedlings.
Oxford residents and officials have long been concerned with maintaining the historic city’s tree canopy.
“This is Oxford’s 11th year as a Tree City USA,” said City Councilman Hoyt Oliver. “We’ve been (removing) old oaks from Oak Street, but the tree board has been planting more than we’re losing.”

Habitat for Humanity project violates tree protection zone, results in damage to protected tree; Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center: Damaged tree on Paton Street sparks discussion of tree protection: The fate of a damaged oak tree in the city’s Fifeville neighborhood depends on a decision to be made by Jim Tolbert, the City’s Director of Neighborhood Development Services (NDS). Tolbert will have the final say on a site plan amendment that would permit a developer to not only remove the tree, but also expand the size of a building to be built on the property.
In October 2006, the Charlottesville Planning Commission approved a rezoning that allowed Habitat for Humanity to build up to 21 housing units in the city’s Fifeville Neighborhood. One of the conditions of the rezoning was that the oak tree be saved along with several others. Grading on the Paton Street site got underway at the beginning of the year.
Around the same time, Habitat came back to NDS to discuss a potential request to expand the footprint of the building by four feet. City Planner Ebony Walden told Habitat that the bigger building might cause the structure to come within the “drip line” of the protected oak, which could damage the tree.

Lady Lake's goal: Add to tree canopy; Lady Lake, FL

Lady Lake's goal: Add to tree canopy - OrlandoSentinel.com:
A tree canopy has long cast a scenic shadow in an old part of town, and now officials hope to replicate the look across other areas.

Town officials are moving forward with plans to apply for a state grant worth up to $24,000 to plant new trees and create a tree-canopy feel around the Rolling Acres Sports Complex. The complex is close to where commercial development has flourished in Lady Lake along U.S. Highway 441.

'What we're looking to do is try to add to the tree canopy,' said Mike Burske, director of the town's parks and recreation department. 'We want to make sure we have a proper urban forest.'

Bristol school praised for tree plans, contributing to goal of tree canopy increase from 14% to 30%; Bristol, UK

Bristol school praised for tree plans Bristol News:
The Bristol Tree Forum has praised plans for Colston's Girls' School to include more trees in its new building proposals.
As part of a £12 million scheme, the school has submitted plans to remove and replace a London Plane tree at the front of the school, in Cheltenham Road, after advice from tree experts who said it would not survive the building works.
Hugh Holden, chair of the organisation which manages the maintenance of council trees in Bristol, said: 'As well as the goodwill gesture of planting four new mature trees, at a cost of £10,000, the new plans incorporate 15 new trees within the school grounds. We feel this should be a precedent and we hope it influences the developers for future works.'
Mr Holden said the news comes as the city council launches a plan to increase Bristol's tree canopy cover from 14 per cent to 30 per cent in order to mitigate climate change and improve the city's green credentials.

Editorial: What's value of these trees?; Salisbury, NC

Editorial: What's value of these trees? Salisbury, NC - Salisbury Post:
There are patches of woods you could clear-cut in Rowan County, and residents probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow as long as the saws didn't crank up at the crack of dawn.

But if those woods are within or adjacent to a municipal area such as Salisbury or Spencer or Landis or Granite Quarry, nearby residents aren't just likely to raise an eyebrow. They'll probably raise a ruckus, which is what has occurred with a developer's plans to clear-cut a 40-acre tract in Spencer along South Rowan Avenue.

The landowner, Craft Development, initially planned to develop the parcel. Company officials now say that a changed financial picture and regulatory hurdles mean that plan is out, and the company will harvest the timber to get a return on its investment. So is this a case where development codes have, in effect, backfired and may result in a denuded eyesore, at least until the loblolly seedings bulk up? It doesn't sound that simple, and the site's future seems about as clear as mud right now. But one thing's certain: The impact of this clear-cutting won't stop at the property line. The parcel contains mature hardwoods, as well as streams and a pond, and has stood unmolested for many years. It is, in short, the type of woodsy sanctuary that might once have been taken for granted in Rowan County. But such urban oases are increasingly giving way to asphalt and brick, here and across the Piedmont.