How to care for S.F.'s 110,000 street trees and 130,000 park trees was the subject of a hearing last week called by Supervisor Scott Wiener. The Department of Public Works is engaged in a controversial program to transfer care to property owners.
San Francisco's trees are in desperate need of some TLC. According to Joshua Sabatini, a "lack of funding has historically plagued the [city's] urban forest, resulting
in sick trees, trees that topple and a thinner canopy compared to other
cities." With a recent report by AECOM estimating the cost of maintaining the existing trees, and planting a modest 2,900 more per year, at between $22.6 million to $31.3 million annually, Supervisor Scott Wiener "is attempting to figure out how to reform The City's tree care system."
A plan to transfer maintenance duties to individual property owners, "is drawing complaints from property
owners and city officials," says Sabatini. "'By any measure, this is not the right way to take care of our street
trees and results in wildly inconsistent maintenance,' said Wiener, who
has supported The City taking back care of all the street trees."
The AECOM study identified three other options to ensure consistent funds for maintenance: a special assessment district, a parcel tax or a general obligation bond.
FULL STORY: Supervisor Scott Wiener seeks better care for urban forest in The City
Invasive Beetles Put Oregon Forests at Risk
Two recently discovered borer beetles could lead to a significant loss of tree canopy.
Tree Folio NYC Aims to Monitor Urban Forest in Real Time
A new tool could help the city reach its goal of planting up to 250,000 new trees by 2035.
Debunking Anti-Tree Myths
Most of the reasons street trees are sometimes unpopular with residents are either untrue or can be mitigated.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service