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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-21 Correspondence - Arbor Day Foundation C).Arbor Day Foundation" City Mayor Cynthia Andrus PO Box 1230 Bozeman,MT 59771 Dear Tree City USA Supporter, On behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation, I write to congratulate Bozeman on earning recognition as a 2020 Tree City USA.Residents of Bozeman should be proud to live in a community that makes the planting and care of trees a priority. Bozeman is one of more than 3,600 Tree City USA communities,with a combined population of 155 million.The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S.Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. If ever there was a time for trees,now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality,water resources,personal health and well-being, and energy use. Bozeman is stepping up to do its part.As a result of your commitment to effective urban forest management,you are helping to provide a solution to these challenges. We hope you are excited to share this accomplishment. Enclosed in this packet is a press release for your convenience as you prepare to contact local media and the public. State foresters coordinate the presentation of the Tree City USA recognition materials. We will forward information about your awards to your state forester's office to facilitate presentation. It would be especially appropriate to make the Tree City USA award a part of your community's Arbor Day ceremony. Again,we celebrate your commitment to the people and trees of Bozeman and thank you for helping to create a healthier planet for all of us. Best Regards, Dan Lambe President cc: Alex Nordquest enclosure For more information contact: Lauren Weyers `'> Arbor Day Foundations lweyers@arborday.org arborday.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arbor Day Foundation Names Bozeman Tree City USA® Lincoln,Neb. (March 15,2021)Bozeman,Montana,was named a 2020 Tree City USA®by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. Bozeman achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. "Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe,president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Bozeman are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy to a better quality of life. Additionally,participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride,whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education." If ever there was a time for trees,now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality,water resources,personal health and well-being, energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding. The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the Time for Trees initiative to address these issues,with unprecedented goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022. With Tree City USA recognition,Bozeman has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Bozeman residents now and in the future. More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA. About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant,nurture, and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org. I V Saving Natural Areas in Citie's i THE CITY USA BULLETIN Mar/Apr 2021 • Editor:Dr.James R.Fazio Natural areas in cities may sound like a contradiction the United States.Early in the 20th century there were of terms.However,joining the two is as essential to even"scenic cemeteries"and a nationwide Nature Study the quality of life in urban areas as playgrounds, Movement.More recently,the focus on nature in our cities bike paths, swimming pools, or other components in the fabric has taken a back seat to other important needs and issues. of a community. But that is changing. Henry David Thoreau once wrote,"A town is saved,not A notable call-to action was Richard Louv's 2005 book, more by the righteous men(and women)in it than by the Last Child in the Woods.He reawakened the nation to woods and swamps that surround it.A township where one the importance of introducing children to nature in an primitive forest waves above while another primitive forest urbanizing world.Today,a new movement is taking place rots below—such a town is fitted to raise not only corn and that champions the cause of protecting and managing the potatoes,but poets and philosophers for the coming ages." remnants of nature in our urban areas.In 2017,New York City's Natural Areas Conservancy initiated the Forest in Cities Philosophy aside,wooded areas in and around our program to promote and advance healthy forested natural communities offer recreation,health benefits,a refuge for areas in cities across America.Central to this effort is science, wildlife,and myriad environmental services.Whether they are management practices,partnerships,and communication. small parcels on scraps of unbuildable land or large forested The program has created a coalition of scientists,local areas such as Bellevue's Urban Forest near Seattle,their governments,and academic institutions to address the needs importance is immense—and too often undervalued. of natural areas in urbanized areas. Like Thoreau,landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted In this issue of the bulletin,you will see some of the understood the value of nature in the city.He incorporated results from this work and,hopefully,be inspired as a tree touches of a rural environment into his design of New York's board or an individual to champion the natural areas in Central Park and other projects he pioneered throughout your community. y r.. _ �� h I I 1 r I _-'_ m ... �r •. 11 III II�' � -}��,�„�}". }a 4 r a • A new emphasis is needed to save or enhance the remaining natural areas in America's communities of all sizes.A fringe of woodlands along this waterway in Austin,Texas,provides numerous environmental and social benefits. GAxbor D. Foundation 68508 Where e e Are Natural Areas? Natural woodlands are found in communities of all sizes. • WETLANDS.These include estuaries,marshes, Just across the Potomac from our nation's teeming capital,43 and swamps. acres of verdant forest can be found in Alexandria,Virginia. In little Nebraska City,Nebraska, ancient oaks and tenacious • ABANDONED INDUSTRIAL SITES.Vegetation quickly berry bushes grace the edges of Table Creek,much as they reclaims the site,particularly along rivers. did when Arbor Day was first celebrated there in 1872.Tracts of woods can be found almost everywhere,occupying the • RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. Old estates slated for land so unobtrusively they are too often virtually ignored and subdivision and new areas planned on former taken for granted. farmland are particularly rich in woods. In your community,look for natural areas in places • GOLF COURSES. Older courses are often fringed or like these: divided with woodlands.In Ocean City,Maryland, when a new-golf course was developed,the owners • MUNICIPAL,COUNTY,AND REGIONAL PARKS. These saved 90 acres of woods and wetlands on a 200-acre are the most common locations of community site.Their goal was to demonstrate environmental natural areas. responsibility, and their reward has been booming business from golfers who appreciate the beauty and • RAVINES AND STEEP SLOPES.Trees and understory serenity of the natural scene. vegetation on these sites are often protected by virtue of difficult terrain. In turn,they hold soil in place and • SCHOOL PROPERTY. In some cases, innovative protect waterways from siltation. teachers convert the woodlands on their own grounds into marvelous outdoor laboratories. • BUFFERS.These are usually found around zoos, industrial sites,and other large public or private • GREENWAYS. Flood plains, old railroad beds,and facilities. utility rights-of-way offer recreational pathways, often adjacent to natural strips of vegetation.In • ARBORETUMS.Managers who value native vegetation China,"bamboo beltways"are planned to link panda as well as exotic trees will make an effort to grow preserves; in the United States, greenways could just both. as easily link communities. (� • PAPER STREETS.These are publicly owned • LANDFILLS.With the passage of time,the waste piles easements marked out on maps for possible use as of humanity can support rich areas of vegetation. streets in the future. Near Toronto, excavated materials dumped at the edge of Lake Ontario became so natural-looking that there • EDGES OF RIVERS AND CREEKS.A plant community was an outcry from citizens when development was here is called riparian habitat and often contains a suggested for waterfront recreation. unique assemblage of life. _ a Small parcels of the wild can be found in most communities.Some,like the famous river banks of Niagara,are an integral part of the community's visual identity. Others are more easily overlooked but are just as important. 2 -TREE CITY USA BUUETIN Mar/Apr 2021Arbor Day Foundation ImportantBenefits y. .u: Frederick Law Olmstead said the benefits of nature "touch us so quietly that we are hardly conscious of them."He believed these benefits were "too complex, subtle, and spiritual"to be studied. Today, scientists are confirming what were once only intuitive observations, and they are providing the value of natural areas in our cities. Here are a few of the benefits, separated into categories, although all are interrelated. ENVIRONMENTAL PERSONAL The concentration of trees of varying ages in a natural Scientific literature is now rife with research results area make them increasingly important as"carbon sinks."In showing how trees and natural areas improve,restore,or a carbon sink,more atmospheric carbon is sequestered than maintain mental and physical health.For children,getting released.Healthy trees,as well as the soil in a natural area,do outdoors and acquainted with nature provides the kind of this and make important contributions to countering climate pleasant memories that lead to adult attitudes and actions change.For example,in New York City,natural area forests supportive of environmental stewardship.For old and make up 25%of the total tree canopy,but account for the young alike,walks in the woods and fresh air can reduce majority of carbon stored by the city's trees.In addition,natural health problems and even extend life. areas cool and freshen the air.On steep slopes,roots anchor the Stress reduction seems to be the key to the health soil,helping to prevent landslides and keep waterways clean. benefits.In a publication of The Coalition for Education in Remnants of the natural environment serve as lifelines for the Outdoors, Denise Mitten offered this list of benefits from mammals and many birds—from warblers or other migrating spending time in natural settings:. species that need woods for rest and food to cavity-nesters that • Attention restoration need year-around homes.Whether for plants or animals,natural . Improved mood states areas are the final refuge that can ensure biodiversity.They are • Reduction of depression a way we can share this planet and sustain life in all its forms. • Reduction of anger and anxiety • Enhanced feelings of pleasure SOCIAL • Increased mental acuity • Reduced mental fatigue Natural areas provide an aesthetic backdrop in • Improved problem-solving ability any community or housing development.They make • Improved concentration neighborhoods more livable and nearby property more • Improved body image valued.They buffer highway noise and provide opportunities • Increased feelings of empowerment for social interaction during bird watching activities or • Encouragement of nurturing characteristics volunteer maintenance projects. • Decreased risk of seasonal affective disorder(SAD) • Mitigation of the impact of dementia TREE CITY USA BULLETIN Mar/Apr 2021i Managing Natural Areas It may seem incongruous to suggest management for something that is considered natural. But whether a large western wilderness area or a small patch of woods in the city, their very existence is the result of human decisions. Beyond that, what happens in and to them depends on conscientious planning and management actions. Here are some of the ways management can be used to maintain or upgrade natural areas. ASSESS As in all urban forestry work,the first step is to know what 4 you have and in what condition.Mapping existing natural areas may be necessary in larger communities.But whether large and scattered,or only one or a few,an evaluation should be made of issues such as native and non-native species,invasive species,crowding,soil erosion,tree conditions,and current i uses. Gaining political support and the appreciation of residents, are also important. .w PLAN j Based on assessment data and resulting priority needs, concise long-range and shorter-term action plans should be .` developed,put in writing,and approved.Of course,who is responsible and has authority depends on local government structures.For example,it may be the parks department,the tree board,or some combination.For maximum effectiveness, planning should also include partnerships with neighborhood groups or other volunteer organizations. 1 DO THE WORK Each natural area is different and has different management rs needs.Here are some of the more common practices used to G restore,manage,and protect urban natural areas. Y �'• ; r Invasive Species Removal Because of earlier cutting and neglect,most urban natural ' areas are plagued with invasive species.Removal is never an easy undertaking,and methods will depend on local conditions.Techniques include hand-pulling,spraying,use of Volunteers with Maryland's Friends of Sligo Creek remove invasive species. grazing goats,and controlled fires.Expert advice is essential. HOW NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPECIES FILL OPEN SPACES NATIVE COLONIZERS INVASIVE WEED*SPECIES First Generation First Generation Example:Wild cherries Example:Norway maple • Sun-loving,shade-intolerant • Sun-loving and shade-tolerant • Short-lived • Longer-lived • Allow a diverse mix of other native High numbers of seeds with high species rate of germination;a dense monoculture is formed Next Generation Shade-tolerant natives,such as oaks or _ Next Generation _ sugar maple More Norway maples *A weed is any plant in the wrong place. 4-TREE CITY USA Bulletin Mar/Apr 2021bo Day Foundation Protection from Soil Compaction Thinning and Planting Some natural areas get"loved to death."Public use at Forest stand improvement methods that are part of attractive sites often results in soil compaction.Remedies traditional forestry can be modified and used to improve include: stand conditions in urban natural areas.The most common • Redesign facilities and roads or trails to avoid fragile sites. needs are thinning overly dense sites and planting native Dense plantings can also help. species in understocked areas.Under the guidance of experts, the best spacing of trees can be determined.Local wildlife • Direct pedestrian travel. needs should be considered when selecting tree or shrub • Move picnic facilities away from shorelines and species.Leaving some dead trees(snags),where they do not stream banks. present a hazard to visitors,is important for woodpeckers and other animals that need deteriorating trees and cavities. • Aerate and mulch around native trees near heavy-use sites. Monitor • Close sites on a rotating basis for rest and restoration. Always use an interpretive sign to explain closures and Observations and measurements in plots or other methods rehabilitation sites. of monitoring change should be part of any plan and work schedule.Annual monitoring will reveal the success of • Consider restricting motor vehicles and bicycles. restoration projects or the need for more work,such as invasive species removal or replanting. Erosion Control Planting disturbed sites on hillsides and plugging eroding Public Safety gullies with discarded Christmas trees are worthwhile Crimes and dumping are often issues surrounding natural projects.Water bars on trails are important devices that areas.Some deterrents include: divert rain runoff before water can gain enough volume and speed to cause erosion. Here is a way to install effective • Increased patrols by law enforcement personnel. water bars that stay in place. • Patrols by volunteers(with clear identification,such as vests and hats). • Appropriate signage. 1. DIG A TRENCH across 2. PLACE LOG or waste • Fencing in some cases or specific areas. path at 30-degree angle. lumber in trench, • Dusk to dawn closures. extending it beyond the path in both directions. Educate Natural areas cannot survive without local support. Gaining such support depends on residents being aware of _ the benefits provided by wooded areas,understanding how 30, l I l I l i they function ecologically—or should function—being iTil � assured of visitor safety,and knowing how they can help. ������ Some ways of gaining this support include: • Programs in local schools,churches,youth organizations, 3. PLACE ROCKS and/or 4. FILL IN ANY SPACE in service clubs,and others. stakes on downhill side. trench so finished cross • Arbor Day celebrations and accompanying media publicity. section looks like this. • Inviting media representatives on private tours. • Interpretive signs and materials. WE CAN'T RESPECT WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. —William A.McLean,Toronto and Region Conservation Authority TREE CITY USA I i2021Arbor Day Foundation 5 Communities 1 More than 100 cities responded to a nationwide survey conducted by New York City's Natural Areas Conservancy in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. While some communities are neglecting the woods within their borders, the survey found that others are taking action and providing ideas and inspiration about what is possible. A MODEL OF ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING- NEW YORK It may surprise some readers,but New York City has 10,500 acres of forested.natural areas and another 10,000 in wetlands and grasslands.In 1984,the Department of Parks and Recreation created a Natural Resources Group to manage these vast and valuable areas.One of the unit's first accomplishments was to map,inventory,and create a system of monitoring the .,, wooded natural areas.They took a quantitative approach to understanding the condition of New York City's forests by examining the soil quality,species composition,tree health,and other features in more than 1,100 plots.They also established 250 permanent plots to gain a better understanding of long-term changes in the forests.These plots are used to help set goals and prioritize work projects,while rapid site measurements are used to direct work and understand its effectiveness. FORESTRY PRACTICES IN THE CITY-ST. LOUIS F St.Louis,Missouri,provides examples of a number of Estuaries are an important part of the natural areas in the vicinity of aggressive management practices intended to restore neglected New York City. or degraded wooded parcels scattered within 1,300-acre Forest Park,the sixth most visited urban park in the nation.The goal is ecological health,species diversity,soil stabilization,and public safety.With technical support and grant funds from the Missouri Department of Conservation,forest stand improvement methods include thinning to proper stocking levels,the introduction of natural openings,and planting native species.The removal of ¢; invasive species has,of course,been part of the projects,but L r the goal is to use the forestry practices to let nature control the invasives and reduce the need for recurring,short-term control 41 methods. Carefully designed prescribed fires have been another management tool.Public education and communication/ cooperation with fire and police departments have been extremely important,and the fires have been successful in ' ' reducing dead material,improving soil nutrients,and providing a means for native species to out-compete invasive species. Natural area management can help qualify for a Tree THE CITY USA City USA Growth Award. Wooded parcels share the park with running and bicycling trails,a golf course, An Arbor Ooy Foundation Program and other constructed features in St.Louis'popular Forest Park. F 6-TREE CITY USA BULLETIN Mar/Apr 2021Arbor Day Foundation A LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE-HOUSTON Houston's Parks&Recreation Department has shown how trees are one solution to adverse climate change through carbon storage and energy savings.Using Forest Service data, department personnel were able to link natural area creation and protection to the city's Climate Action Plan.The city's riparian zones were prioritized,and work was outlined in a — Riparian Restoration Program.The planned work was slaown to provide even more benefits through flood mitigation and reduction of water pollution.An example of the results is that 10 acres of previously mowed park land were planted to create forest habitat,and a total of 70 parks were identified as having areas adjacent to a bayou or tributary where a riparian buffer could be enhanced or created. The skyline of downtown Houston,Texas,from a bridge over the Buffalo RESTORATION OF A COTTONWOOD FLOOD PLAIN — Bayou within Eleanor Tinsley Park. BILLINGS Billings,Montana,has evolved from a hub of railroad, agricultural,and mining activities to a major center of commerce,education,and medical services.With the change of demographics has come a demand for amenities.This,in turn,has led to what has been called"the rediscovery of the (Yellowstone)river as an ecological and recreational gem." When gravel pits and other industrial use of the riverside land were abandoned,Riverfront Park and the Montana Audubon Center were created.The park has been formally designated by the city as a natural area.Now,work is progressing to make the area a showcase of a riparian cottonwood forest functioning as naturally as possible.With help from students at nearby Rocky Mountain College,plots for monitoring are being established,invasive species are being removed,and interpretive materials are being developed.The goal is to make the restored The restoration of Riverfront Park in Billings not only protects an area needed natural areas in Riverfront Park the epicenter for research and by cottonwood trees to function as a unique ecosystem,but it has also led to an opportunity for the public to experience an intact,fully greater public appreciation of nature. functioning riparian cottonwood forest ecosystem. NO WOODS ARE TOO SMALL- BALTIMORE Katie Lautar,executive director of Baltimore Green Space, defines a wooded area as being more than 10,000 square feet. Baltimore has more than 1,000 such natural areas and 3-5-acre Springfield Woods is one of them.For a long time,this place was only a dumping area until a local resident,who used to play in the woods as a boy,spearheaded an effort to restore ., and preserve Springfield Woods.To gain attention to the site as something beneficial and enjoyable,a fundraising event was _ organized called"Monster of Springfield Woods Haunted Trail." With the help of Loyola University students dressed in scary costumes,a good time was apparently had by all.This,along with community cleanup events and invasive vine removal,has _+► garnered public appreciation for this wooded parcel and similar T x _ areas in Baltimore's parklands and conservation areas. Students from Loyola University join with Friends of Springfield Woods to clean up trash and help restore the small,wooded area in Baltimore. TREE CITY USA BUILLETIN Mar/Apr 2021Arbor Day Foundation Forging 1 Perspective i t Participants gather in a 2019 four-day"Forest in Cities National Workshop."This event brought together urban forestry leaders from across the country to explore opportunities for collaboration and to strategize on ways that urban natural areas can be part of the climate solution. With the creation of the Forest in Cities program,New The Forests in Cities coalition has worked to generate York's Natural Areas Conservancy confirmed there is national knowledge about natural areas,raise awareness about their interest in forested natural areas and their management value,and build a community of practice through networking. needs.Findings from the survey mentioned on page 6 can be In early 2020,this group documented the early impacts of summed up as follows: COVID-19 on urban natural areas visitation and care in 12 U. S. cities.They found that 83%of the organizations noted • Forested urban natural areas are critical places to improve an increase in visitation to natural areas.These special places the quality of life for city residents,but these areas need were—and are—proved to be invaluable resources for management intervention to thrive and sustain. millions of residents.They provide space for socially distanced • Invasive species removal is both the most commonly activities and a way to reduce stress and improve moods. conducted management activity and the top challenge organizations face. Despite the importance of natural areas,the pandemic • The survey respondents collaborate locally,but less than has added another layer of concerns for protection and half participate in a regional or national network. management.The survey found: • There are opportunities to strengthen connections with the fields of public health,urban planning,and . 72%of the organizations have had impacts on their budgets. climate resilience. • 94%saw a decrease in volunteer events. • Only 17%were confident in their organization having adequate funding in 2021. For quick links to additional information about the content of this issue of the FOR MORE INFORMATION bulletin,including citations and authorship of material that is summarized,please visit arborday.org/bulletins. Tree City USA Bulletin©2021 Arbor Day Foundation.Published by the Arbor Day Foundation;James R.Fazio,editor;Technical reviewer for this issue:Clara Pregitzer,Deputy Director of Conservation Science,Natural Areas Conservancy,New York;Sara Rankin,graphic designer.PHOTOS COURTESY:Friends of Sligo Creek(Page 4),Friends of the Springfield Woods (Page 7),Natural Areas Conservancy(Page 8) Published • i of Tree City USA by Arbor Day Foundation • • Lincoln, 68508 50129501