It’s your urban forest - learn it, grow it, maintain it, enjoy it! Celebrating Rural Georgia Georgia Forestry Commission August 2006 Susan Reisch Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator

Urban & Community Forestry All trees, vegetation, watersheds and wildlife in urban areas, developed areas or communities. State and local govt. highway rights-of-way, greenspace, undeveloped forests, parks, private and commercial land. Management of these resources.

Community Forestry Partners USDA Forest Service Georgia Urban Forest Council State and local govt’s. Utilities Tree care companies Contractors and landscapers Tree groups Sierra Club Cooperative Extension Georgia Conservancy Master Gardeners and Garden Clubs RC&Ds RDCs Land Trusts NRCS Developers/Homebuilders

Benefits of Urban Trees Environmental Social Economic Health

Did you know? Surgical patients heal faster with a view of trees Shoppers spend up to 10% more in tree-lined business districts Trees lure people outdoors to walk, bike and hike leading to an increase in physical activity Children with ADHD are better able to concentrate after activities in green settings

Resources Tree City USA Urban & Community Forestry Grants - management plans, tree ordinances, arborists, tree groups Five-Year Plan for Georgia’s Urban & Community Forest Georgia Model Urban Forest Book - Georgia Forestry Commissionwww.gatrees.org

It’s your urban forest - learn it, grow it, maintain it, enjoy it! Celebrating Rural Georgia Georgia Forestry Commission August 2006 Larry Morris Sustainable Community Forestry Program

Georgia’s Growth CountyAnnual Growth Rate Henry 7.82 % Paulding 7.32 % Newton 7.17 % Forsyth 6.82 % Cherokee 5.95 % Barrow 5.72 % Walton 4.88 % Gwinnett 4.77 % Douglas 4.75 % Jackson 4.62 % Coweta 4.56 % Bryan 4.39 % Dawson 4.27 % Effingham 4.25 % Gilmer 4.15 % White 4.14 % Pike 4.09 % Pickens 4.08 % Carroll 4.07 % Fannin 4.01 % Lumpkin 3.89 % Union 3.87 % Lee 3.84 % 23 of Top 100 growth counties in US 10.8% growth rate in last five years From 9MM to 18MM by 2030

More than 50% of Georgia homes are currently in the wildland-urban interface areas. Georgia Housing Density

So What? Who Cares? Why Trees? Water Air Economics Fragmentation/Development

Trees and Water Water Quality/Quantity Drought & water wars 1,000 more miles impaired streams Watershed issues Impaired Waters In 2002, Georgia had 447 impaired waters 554 causes of impairment

Riparian Buffers BMPs and Streamside Management Zones Riparian Buffers S tream health rating of “good” strongly correlated to less than 10% impervious surface and more than 60% riparian forest cover (Goetz, 2003).

Trees and Air Air Quality Non-attainment growth PM 2.5 & prescribed burning

Georgia Burning Restrictions

Why Trees? Atlanta: Trees removed 1,196 metric tons of air pollution in 1994 – estimated value of service $6.5 million (Nowak, 1994.) Atlanta: A 20% loss of forest canopy due to urbanization has led to a 14% increase in ozone concentrations (Nowak, 2005.)

Trees and Local Economics Land divestitures Property tax Development and Growth

Industrial Timberland Tax Change

Metro Atlanta – Forest Canopy

54 acres of forest canopy are lost each day in the Atlanta region Forest Canopy Loss per day

Metro Atlanta – Impervious Surface

28 acres of impervious surface is added to the Atlanta region each day Impervious Surface Increase per day

The Next Step 2006: Statewide canopy loss and impervious surface gain ( metro areas) 2007: Remainder of the state (2002 – 2005)

Other Steps Tree Ordinances Conservation Easements

It’s your urban forest - learn it, grow it, maintain it, enjoy it! Georgia Forestry Commission P.O. Box 819 Macon, GA GA-TREES