Rob Farrell State Forester

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA

Department of Forestry

900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800  Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

(434) 977-6555  Fax: (434) 296-2369  www.dof.virginia.gov

Date: *[Month, Day Year]

Community Name: *[Community Name]

Contact Person: *[Contact Person Name]

Dear *[Contact Person]:

Here is your Urban Forest Management Plan for an area identified within *[Community Name] located in *[County Name] County. It was my pleasure to prepare this plan for your community knowing that you have a true interest in the good stewardship and active management of your natural resources.

In this plan, there are two basic components. The first is a personalized management plan based upon the objectives identified by the [*insert reference to responsible party, such as public entity, advisory group, homeowner’s association, etc.] including the goal of managing for the benefit of the residents and to keep the land forested through action items regarding the establishment, protection, conservation, and maintenance of public trees. The second part is an appendix containing important information to help you understand and implement the plan’s recommendations and make your future management decisions. All of the recommendations within this plan are for your consideration, but I believe that they will help you achieve your long- and short-term goals for your property.

The first step you should take in managing your forest resources is to *[insert description of first step].

I trust that you will find this plan to be informative and useful as you actively manage your natural resources. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Sincerely,

*[Area Forester’s Name]

*[Office Address]

*[City, State ZIP]

*[Phone]

*[Email user.name@dof.virginia.gov]

Urban Forest Management Plan

*[Community Name]

*[Date]

Urban Forest Management Plan

ABOUT THIS PLAN

*[Purpose Statement]

The development and implementation of this plan is the responsibility of *[insert responsible party name]. All of the management recommendations are for your consideration. This plan is intended for planning purposes ONLY and is not intended for making economic decisions where more detailed information would be required.

URBAN FOREST OBJECTIVES

*[…]

*[…]

*[…]

INTRODUCTION

The overall objective of *[Community Name] is to build and maintain a healthy urban forest canopy that can be enjoyed for generations. *[Value of Urban Forests]

*[Insert applicable examples of the Benefits of Trees]

The recommendations in this plan are made using the best information currently available. They also highlight the need for additional and continuous city-wide assessments of the tree resource to provide context for strategic management direction. *[Insert Plan Implementation]

There are a number of policies, programs, regulations, and documents that establish a framework for tree preservation, planting, and care.

*[insert list/link of applicable ordinances, policies, standards, etc. Include materials in the appendix as appropriate].

PROPERTY OVERVIEW

This plan has been prepared for the area defined and described below.

*[Insert Map of Plan Area].

*[Type of development]

*[General land form and soils]

*[Primary tree species composition]

*[Land use history (check historic records, insert aerial photos)]

*[Land use restrictions (i.e., special areas, conservation easements, land use disturbances, covenants, etc.)]

Stand: * [insert stand number - repeat this section as needed for the number of identified stands.]

Description:	*[short description of parcel]

Acres or Number of Trees:	*[insert acres or number of trees as appropriate

Species Present:	*[include approximate age, diameter and height information]

Tree Health & Vigor:	*[note any wide spread problems]

Public Safety/Fire Risk:	* [note obvious safety concerns]

Site Quality & Soils:	*[note type of forest these soils would normally support.]

Urban Wood Utilization:	* [note ways wood is currently being used/recycled]

Water Resources:	* [note waterbodies, stormwater infrastructure, etc.]

Invasive Species:	* […]

Cultural Resources:	* […]

Wildlife Habitat:	* […]

Tree Quality:	* […]

Stocking/Density:	* […]

Aspect & Topography:	* […]

Recreation/Aesthetics:	* […]

T&E Species Present:	* […]

Unique Natural Features:	* […]

Recommendations:	*[…]

*[Insert optional categories as they apply]

Stand: * [insert stand number - repeat this section as needed for the number of identified stands.]

Description:	*[short description of parcel]

Acres or Number of Trees:	*[insert acres or number of trees as appropriate

Species Present:	*[include approximate age, diameter and height information]

Tree Health & Vigor:	*[note any wide spread problems]

Public Safety/Fire Risk:	* [note obvious safety concerns]

Site Quality & Soils:	*[note type of forest these soils would normally support.]

Urban Wood Utilization:	* [note ways wood is currently being used/recycled]

Water Resources:	* [note waterbodies, stormwater infrastructure, etc.]

Invasive Species:	* […]

Cultural Resources:	* […]

Wildlife Habitat:	* […]

Tree Quality:	* […]

Stocking/Density:	* […]

Aspect & Topography:	* […]

Recreation/Aesthetics:	* […]

T&E Species Present:	* […]

Unique Natural Features:	* […]

Recommendations:	*[…]

*[Insert optional categories as they apply]

URBAN WOOD UTILIZATION

Wood/tree debris entry into landfills can be reduced or avoided by creating a program to utilize all parts of the tree. A formal urban tree utilization program and educational outreach effort on wood reuse can bring the community together, save money, and help the environment. The effort should encompass the proper use of tree residues throughout the life of the tree. Examples include compost, mulch/chips, firewood, and lumber or craft wood. Developing an Urban Wood Use Program can be a step-by-step process and not everything has to be done at once. A tiered approach can provide milestone objectives to arrive at a program that matches your resource capacity and market demand. Consider a three-tiered development approach.

Tier 1: Base Utilization: The goals of this tier are cost reduction and diversion of urban wood and byproducts from landfills.

Tier 2: Developing Utilization: The goal of this tier is to identify and engage regional producers, markets, and end users after having achieved base utilization.

Tier 3: Enterprise Utilization: The goal of this tier is supplying and/or producing value-added products for multiple benefits, including possible revenue generation.

*[Identify and describe the current “tier” of urban wood utilization for the planning area. Identify next steps and resource needs, for examples see: Establishing an Urban Wood Use Program]

HIRING A CERTIFIED ARBORIST

Arborists are tasked with maintaining their certification through continuing education opportunities yearly. Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Well cared-for trees add to property values, lower utility costs, and provide a variety of ecosystem benefits. To find an arborist near you, contact a forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry or visit the website www.goodtreecare.com. In addition to working with a certified arborist, the following professional staff are available to professionally manage the urban forest resource and advance the goals of this plan:

*[insert information about the City/County Arborist, City Forester, or Tree Warden, etc. Also see MAC ISA Chapter site ww.goodtreecare.com or consider the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) for specialized needs.]

PROPER PLANTING

The process of planting a tree is usually accomplished quickly but is only one small part of successfully establishing a new tree. Mistakes made when planting a tree are difficult and costly to correct later. With a little up-front planning, you can produce a landscape that will cool homes in summer and tame the winter winds. It is important to select trees that grow well in the soil and moisture of your neighborhood and ensure proper placement to avoid collisions with power lines and buildings.

Tree selection should consider many factors, including fully-grown height, canopy spread (width), deciduous or evergreen types, form and shape, growth rate, site requirements (soil, sun, and moisture), fruit or nut production, and hardiness zone. For more information, see: The Right Tree the Right Place and the ANSI A300 National Standard on Proper Planting.

For the best results, follow these instructions for proper tree planting adapted from the national standard:

Inspect the root ball and remove any circling/constricting roots.

Dig a wide, shallow planting hole that is twice as wide as the root ball.

Place the tree in the hole and ensure that the root collar is exposed. The root collar is the transition zone between the trunk and root system.

Remove all wire and burlap from the root ball taking care to keep the root ball intact.

Back-fill the soil making sure there are no air pockets in the planting hole.

Amend with compost if the quality of the site is poor.

Use wood chips from urban trees to mulch new plantings.

Consider protection from animal damage.

Give the newly-planted tree a good drink to help settle it into the hole.

Water regularly for the first two years or until the tree has had a chance to establish.

MULCHING WITH WOOD CHIPS

Trees grown in mulch will grow twice as fast and twice as healthy as trees grown in grass. Turf competes with roots of the tree for nutrients and absorbs them before the tree is able. Wood chips are the best option when mulching trees because water can properly percolate through to the roots of the tree. Shredded mulch tends to form a thick mat that repels water and harbors pests. Mulch can be added any time of year – it will retain moisture in the hot summer months as well as provide protection in the cooler winter months. Green wood chips should only be used as a top dressing or surface mulch and not incorporated into the soil because of temporary nitrogen depletion. Other great options are coarse shredded wood mulch and undecomposed leaves.

For best results, follow these instructions adapted from the ANSI A300 national standard:

Remove any old mulch before adding new mulch.

Leave a few inches of space between the trunk of the tree and the mulch.

Apply between 2 to 4 inches of mulch from the base of the tree towards the dripline or perimeter of the planting.

Monitor mulch level and add more as the lower layers decompose into the soil.

PROPER PRUNING

Pruning trees within the landscape is essential for improved form, function, and safety. Determine the reasons and objectives for each tree before making a cut. Objectives include branch reduction, improving structure, providing clearance, improving health, among many others. Incorrectly pruning a tree has lasting consequences and should not be done without knowledge of tree biology and species requirements. It is recommended to hire an arborist to prune mature trees, as they require additional equipment and safety considerations. Young trees should be pruned on a 2- to 4-year basis depending on need. Further information regarding proper pruning can be found in the appendix of this plan.

For pruning young trees, follow the considerations adapted from the ANSI A300 national standard:

Determine species requirements and pruning objectives before making a cut. Remove only as much live tissue as needed to achieve specified objective.

The crown of the tree measures from the lowest branch upward, including all of the branches and foliage.

Make pruning cuts just outside the branch collar to improve healing.

The branch collar is the area of swelling at the union between a parent stem and a smaller branch.

Use the appropriate tools. Often simple hand pruners and saws can complete the job.

Establish scaffold branches to provide stable structure and remove dead, dying, diseased, and/or codominant stems.

Avoid pruning practices that harm trees including topping, tipping, flush cutting, bark ripping, and stub cutting.

URBAN FOREST HEALTH

A healthy urban forest is a forest that possesses the ability to sustain the unique species composition and processes that exist within it. Factors related to urban forest health include tree age, species composition, soil conditions, and root zone protection. Active management of the forest helps to maintain and improve its sustainability, taking into account all the factors that influence the resource elements addressed in the Urban Forest Management Plan and are important for supporting individual tree health as well as a healthy ecosystem. Urban forest health issues are often directly related to the active management of insects and diseases, invasive plants, and human influence. Annual inspections for signs of insects, diseases, or invasive plant infestations should be completed by the *[Manager of property]. Continued monitoring is the best preventative measure to ensuring forest health. If any unusual problems are found, please contact a certified arborist for inspection.

*[Insert information about any identified disease or insect problems, human influences on forest health, soil management considerations, and/or other key considerations.]

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

A pest control strategy may use a variety of complementary strategies including mechanical devices, physical devices, genetic, biological or cultural management, and chemical management. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines several appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan to reduce pests and their damage to an acceptable level. Using many different tactics to control a pest problem causes the least disruption to the living organisms and non-living surroundings at the treatment site. Relying only on pesticides for pest control can cause pests to develop resistance to pesticides, can cause outbreaks of other pests, and can harm surfaces and non-target organisms. With some types of pests, using only pesticides achieves very poor control. The best strategy for each situation depends on the pest and the control needed. It is important to focus on pest population levels when evaluating risk. The objective of controls is to manage populations.

To solve pest problems, first:

Identify the pest or pests and determine whether control is warranted for each (i.e., population levels are a key factor in determining appropriate action).

Determine pest control goals.

Know what control tactics are available.

Evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic or combination of tactics.

Choose the most effective strategy that causes the least harm to people and the environment.

Use each tactic in the strategy correctly.

Observe local, state, and federal pesticide use and application regulations that apply to the situation.

(Michael J. Weaver, Patricia A. Hipkins, Virginia Tech Pesticides Program, 2013)

COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Cost-share assistance programs and various grant opportunities may be available to help defray project costs. Programs generally may pay between 35% and 75% of the costs involved in certain projects. Funds are available on a competitive basis and must be approved prior to the start of any management work. Please check with your local Virginia Department of Forestry representative for availability of programs and funds or visit the VDOF website for details.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Urban and community forest stewardship can include significant engagement with residents and other individuals and organizations providing volunteer services. Local contacts are included in the appendix. All Virginia Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Grants require tracking the number of hours volunteers spend leading, assisting with, or otherwise participating in an activity or education event related to the urban forest program. It is recommended to keep records of this information if appropriate and feasible.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

As soon as possible, you should begin enacting this plan. For direction, focus on utilizing the included timeline. The next step would be:

*[insert information on priority actions/starting points.]

Continued monitoring of the area should be conducted. At a minimum, a yearly review should be conducted by a certified arborist or forester. It is important to recognize that all of the statements made in this document have been made using above-ground, visually-apparent assessments with professional judgments. There are no guarantees as to life span, conditions, or health. It should be considered a framework in which to achieve the community’s goals as described above.

*[Insert general recommendations & additional maps if needed]

Recommended Schedule of Maintenance Activities **Frequency is set at the very least; Monitoring should be conducted to determine whether frequency needs adjustment
Season	Year	Frequency	Stand	Activity
*[Insert appropriate season]	*[Insert year of maintenance]	*[Indicate how often this needs to be completed]	*[Indicate specific area of maintenance activity]	*[Specify activity]
*[Insert appropriate season]	*[Insert year of maintenance]	*[Indicate how often this needs to be completed]	*[Indicate specific area of maintenance activity]	*[Specify activity]
*[Insert appropriate season]	*[Insert year of maintenance]	*[Indicate how often this needs to be completed]	*[Indicate specific area of maintenance activity]	*[Specify activity]
*[Insert appropriate season]	*[Insert year of maintenance]	*[Indicate how often this needs to be completed]	*[Indicate specific area of maintenance activity]	*[Specify activity]

*Cost-share program eligibility requirements vary between the programs and funding may not be available. Contact your local VDOF Forester for up-to-date information about various programs.

*[Insert applicable grant programs (VTCW or U&CF or other partnering agency programs like EQUIP)]

Appendix

Arborist Listing

American Society of Consulting Arborists

Find an Arborist (treesaregood.org)

MAC ISA Chapter (www.goodtreecare.com)

Why Hire an Arborist

Food and Fruit Forests

Growing a Food Forest

Grant and Funding Sources

Urban & Community Forestry

*[Identify source(s) of technical, educational, and/or financial resources provided to a community by the State forestry agency or other program partners]

Historic/Cultural Resources

Historic Preservation, Natural History & Heritage

Historic Tree Preservation

Virginia Big Tree Program and Remarkable Trees Program

Insects & Disease Issues and Treatments

Common Insects and Diseases in Virginia

Emerald Ash Borer

Gypsy Moth

Laurel Wilt

Oak Decline

Southern Pine Beetle

Spotted Lanternfly

Thousand Cankers Disease

Tree & Forest Health Guide, Virginia

Invasive Species Identification & Control Practices

Invasive Plant Factsheets

Invasive Plant Species of Virginia – What You Can Do

Managing Invasives in Natural Areas, Parks and Small Woodlands

Virginia Invasive Plant Species List

Inventory

Street Tree Inventory

Urban Tree Risk Management (including hazard trees)

Local Contacts

*[insert listing of individual(s) available to provide advice and/or assist with urban forest management, including the City/County Arborist, City Forester, or Tree Warden].

Soil and Water Conservation District

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Virginia Department of Forestry Urban & Community Forestry

*[Local government offices]

*[Local non-profits]

Ordinances

Virginia Tree Ordinances Database

Planting and Mulching

New Tree Planting

Planting a Tree

Proper Mulching Techniques

The Right Tree in the Right Place

Pruning and Maintenance

Mature Tree Care

Why Topping Hurts Trees

Urban Forestry

A Training Manual for Virginia Tree Stewards: Volunteers for the Community Forest

Resource list for Pollinators (webinar recording)

Vibrant Cities Lab

Urban Forests and Climate Change

Urban Forestry Resource Library

Urban Forestry Toolkit

Urban Riparian Forest Buffers

Urban Wildlife

Urban Wood Utilization

Establishing an Urban Wood Use Program

Urban and Small Woodlot Forestry Business Directory

Urban Wood Reuse

Virginia Urban Wood Group