Working to benefit the urban forest | Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register | visaliatimesdelta.com
More than 1,000 trees shade downtown Visalia streets and businesses. Most were planted in the last 10 years through the assistance of the Urban Tree Foundation.
Following is a Q and A with Brian Kempf, the foundation's director.
What is the Urban Tree Foundation?
The Urban Tree Foundation is a 501(c)-3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide services and programs to benefit the urban forest. The foundation is dedicated to promoting and preserving the urban forest through education, planting and tree care. In collaboration with public and private agencies, it assists communities in becoming active partners in the planting and maintenance of the urban forest. There are many urban forestry nonprofits throughout the state, ranging from large-sized organizations such as Tree People in Los Angeles to small, all-volunteer organizations like Marin ReLeaf.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
EPA Launches Green Infrastructure Drive in 10 Major Cities
EPA Launches Green Infrastructure Drive · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an initiative to promote the use of “green infrastructure” by cities and towns, in an effort to reduce stormwater runoff.
The agency says it will partner with local governments and other bodies in 10 cities that use such environmental tools as green roofs, permeable street materials and increased tree cover to “encourage and support” the cities’ expanded use of such infrastructure.
The 10 cities are: Austin, Texas; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Puyallup, Wash.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C. and some neighboring communities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an initiative to promote the use of “green infrastructure” by cities and towns, in an effort to reduce stormwater runoff.
The agency says it will partner with local governments and other bodies in 10 cities that use such environmental tools as green roofs, permeable street materials and increased tree cover to “encourage and support” the cities’ expanded use of such infrastructure.
The 10 cities are: Austin, Texas; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Puyallup, Wash.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C. and some neighboring communities.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Grand Rapids celebrates Arbor Day with tree planting - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids celebrates Arbor Day with tree planting | wzzm13.com
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Today is Arbor Day in Grand Rapids and the city is celebrating appropriately. City leaders and volunteers planted more than 50 trees and seedlings in Garfield Park this morning. Many of the trees are temporarily planted at the park's Urban Volunteer Tree Nursery.
The Arbor Day Foundation recently gave Grand Rapids its first ever Tree City USA Growth Award.
"Arbor Day is a great time to reflect on the importance of trees. And having kids out here to realize the role that trees play, from pulling carbon to stopping storm water, and beautify communities, they're all really important lessons," said Steve Faber with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.
Grand Rapids leaders set a goal of increasing the city's tree canopy to 40-percent of the city's land area.
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Today is Arbor Day in Grand Rapids and the city is celebrating appropriately. City leaders and volunteers planted more than 50 trees and seedlings in Garfield Park this morning. Many of the trees are temporarily planted at the park's Urban Volunteer Tree Nursery.
The Arbor Day Foundation recently gave Grand Rapids its first ever Tree City USA Growth Award.
"Arbor Day is a great time to reflect on the importance of trees. And having kids out here to realize the role that trees play, from pulling carbon to stopping storm water, and beautify communities, they're all really important lessons," said Steve Faber with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.
Grand Rapids leaders set a goal of increasing the city's tree canopy to 40-percent of the city's land area.
Fort Wayne recognized by Tree City USA - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne recognized by Tree City USA
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Mayor Tom Henry was joined by residents of the Hoevelwood Civic Neighborhood, Trees Indiana, Parks & Recreation Director Al Moll and Manager of Forestry Operations Chad Tinkel as they celebrated Arbor Day in the Hoevelwood neighborhood Friday.
The Hoevelwood Civic Neighborhood is located off E. Paulding Road in Fort Wayne.
According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Mayor Henry announced that Fort Wayne has been named a ‘Tree City USA’ for the 21st year in a row. This designation was earned for tree canopy stewardship and a continued commitment to a green city.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Mayor Tom Henry was joined by residents of the Hoevelwood Civic Neighborhood, Trees Indiana, Parks & Recreation Director Al Moll and Manager of Forestry Operations Chad Tinkel as they celebrated Arbor Day in the Hoevelwood neighborhood Friday.
The Hoevelwood Civic Neighborhood is located off E. Paulding Road in Fort Wayne.
According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Mayor Henry announced that Fort Wayne has been named a ‘Tree City USA’ for the 21st year in a row. This designation was earned for tree canopy stewardship and a continued commitment to a green city.
Tree stewards offer help for a stumped city - Roanoke, VA
Tree stewards offer help for a stumped city - Roanoke.com
Today thousands of people will celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees.
More than 30 Roanokers, however, carry on their celebrations throughout the year by volunteering as tree stewards for Roanoke's urban forestry program. And during a time of austere budgets and program cuts, the tree stewards are helping supplement the program's nine full-time workers and providing the blueprint for low-cost delivery of city services.
Roanoke established the Tree Steward Program in 2009.
"It was planned as an educational piece to let people know what they can do to help preserve the city's tree canopy, to teach them how to work with their own trees and to help establish a volunteer network," said Michael Clark, Roanoke parks and recreation manager.
Today thousands of people will celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees.
More than 30 Roanokers, however, carry on their celebrations throughout the year by volunteering as tree stewards for Roanoke's urban forestry program. And during a time of austere budgets and program cuts, the tree stewards are helping supplement the program's nine full-time workers and providing the blueprint for low-cost delivery of city services.
Roanoke established the Tree Steward Program in 2009.
"It was planned as an educational piece to let people know what they can do to help preserve the city's tree canopy, to teach them how to work with their own trees and to help establish a volunteer network," said Michael Clark, Roanoke parks and recreation manager.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Azavea Launches PhillyTreeMap.org, a Web Application to Inventory Philadelphia's Urban Forest - Philadelphia, PA
Azavea Launches PhillyTreeMap.org, a Web Application to Inventory Philadelphia's Urban Forest | Benzinga.com
Azavea, a geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company announces the launch of PhillyTreeMap (http://www.PhillyTreeMap.org), a wiki-inspired web application that enables the public to collaborate with the project partners -- City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission – to map, inventory, and preserve the Philadelphia urban forest. PhillyTreeMap was unveiled as part of Philly Tech Week's Green Tech Showcase, today, Arbor Day.
Urban street trees have myriad proven benefits for communities including providing shade, improving air quality, assisting with stormwater runoff, raising property values, decreasing utility bills, and enhancing the look and feel of communities. While tree inventories ensure that municipalities have data to consult when managing the urban forest, creating a complete inventory is a time consuming and resource intensive process. PhillyTreeMap provides an easy-to-use public inventorying platform that encourages the public to contribute to an interactive and dynamic map of the city's tree population. While the initial database load has resulted in over 175,000 trees in the system, public help is needed to ensure the data is both current and complete. With a free registration, users can add trees to the system, edit or add to existing tree records, and upload tree images. All changes are immediately visible in the system, but a group of trained administrators will also review changes and new entries to ensure accuracy. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will share the management and monitoring of the system.
Azavea, a geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company announces the launch of PhillyTreeMap (http://www.PhillyTreeMap.org), a wiki-inspired web application that enables the public to collaborate with the project partners -- City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission – to map, inventory, and preserve the Philadelphia urban forest. PhillyTreeMap was unveiled as part of Philly Tech Week's Green Tech Showcase, today, Arbor Day.
Urban street trees have myriad proven benefits for communities including providing shade, improving air quality, assisting with stormwater runoff, raising property values, decreasing utility bills, and enhancing the look and feel of communities. While tree inventories ensure that municipalities have data to consult when managing the urban forest, creating a complete inventory is a time consuming and resource intensive process. PhillyTreeMap provides an easy-to-use public inventorying platform that encourages the public to contribute to an interactive and dynamic map of the city's tree population. While the initial database load has resulted in over 175,000 trees in the system, public help is needed to ensure the data is both current and complete. With a free registration, users can add trees to the system, edit or add to existing tree records, and upload tree images. All changes are immediately visible in the system, but a group of trained administrators will also review changes and new entries to ensure accuracy. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will share the management and monitoring of the system.
New motto? 'Minneapolis, city of shade' - Minneapolis, MN
New motto? 'Minneapolis, city of shade' | StarTribune.com
If you're looking for the shadiest place in Minneapolis this summer, head to the Lynnhurst neighborhood off the southeast shore of Lake Harriet.
The neighborhood ranks first in the city in the proportion of urban tree cover that blankets its homes, businesses and parks. Nearly 49 percent of its area, which includes a portion of Minnehaha Creek, is covered, according to a first-of-its-kind study of the city's canopy that used high-resolution satellite technology.
The study, by a team of University of Minnesota researchers, put the overall city rate at 31.5 percent, higher than previous estimates that used less precise methods.
In St. Paul, the canopy cover rate was 32.5 percent, a recent study found. Researchers also studied Woodbury, where the tree cover is 21.5 percent; it's lower because large portions of the city still are cropland, and trees in newer residential developments are predominantly younger and smaller, said Marvin Bauer, lead researcher and professor of remote sensing at the university's Department of Forest Resources.
If you're looking for the shadiest place in Minneapolis this summer, head to the Lynnhurst neighborhood off the southeast shore of Lake Harriet.
The neighborhood ranks first in the city in the proportion of urban tree cover that blankets its homes, businesses and parks. Nearly 49 percent of its area, which includes a portion of Minnehaha Creek, is covered, according to a first-of-its-kind study of the city's canopy that used high-resolution satellite technology.
The study, by a team of University of Minnesota researchers, put the overall city rate at 31.5 percent, higher than previous estimates that used less precise methods.
In St. Paul, the canopy cover rate was 32.5 percent, a recent study found. Researchers also studied Woodbury, where the tree cover is 21.5 percent; it's lower because large portions of the city still are cropland, and trees in newer residential developments are predominantly younger and smaller, said Marvin Bauer, lead researcher and professor of remote sensing at the university's Department of Forest Resources.
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