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EEO <br />ISAQ <br />International Society of Arbericulture <br />Goals for community forest programs <br />The urban forest serves a wide variety of functions that promote the <br />health, safety, and general welfare of residents. These functions include: <br />a conserving energy, by providing shade and evaporative cooling <br />through transpiration; <br />• improving local and global air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide <br />and ozone, adsorbing particulate matter, and producing oxygen; <br />• reducing wind speed and directing air flow; <br />• reducing noise pollution; <br />• providing habitat for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife; <br />• reducing storm runoff and the potential for soil erosion; <br />• increasing real property values; <br />• enhancing visual and aesthetic qualities that attract visitors and <br />businesses and serve as a source of community image and pride. <br />All these benefits increase as canopy cover increases. By establishing and <br />maintaining maximum tree cover, the community is able to realize the maximum <br />benefits the urban forest can provide. The maximum amount of tree canopy a <br />given community can support must be determined by analyzing limitations posed <br />by climate and land use. <br />Ordinance provisions <br />Tree ordinance provisions covering planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on <br />public and private land are related to this goal. Performance standards for the amount of tree <br />cover the community hopes to achieve and maintain along streets, parking lots, residential and <br />commercial areas, parks and open spaces should be established in these provisions. A <br />provision calling for development of an urban forest management plan is essential to this goal. <br />This plan should provide for a sustained forest canopy through properly phased tree planting <br />and removal. <br />• Designate administrative responsibilities <br />• Develop a comprehensive management plan <br />• Resolution of conflicts between trees and structures <br />® Planting requirements <br />® Permit required for activities that may damage city owned trees <br />• Permit required for activities that may damage protected private trees <br />• Conservation of forest and woodland resources during development <br />