The purpose of the Five-Year Strategic Plan is to provide direction for Georgia’s urban and community forestry programs and policy development and to coordinate statewide efforts to conserve and enhance Georgia’s community forests.

 

Six issues were identified by the strategic planning committee and are addressed in the Five-Year Plan for Georgia’s Urban and Community Forests. These issues are:

 

Issue 1. Tree Canopy and Impervious Surface 

An adequate amount of tree canopy and greenspace is not being managed and protected in communities. Rapid land development is severely impacting community forest resources that are already weakened by aging, insects, diseases, storms, and humans. By implementing this plan we seek to increase canopy cover while decreasing the gain in impervious surfaces.

 

Issue 2. Understanding the Resource Value of Trees 

All residents of Georgia, elected officials and resource managers are not aware the value of the community forest resource and the common, shared environmental, social, economic, and health benefits provided by the community forest. We seek to create public awareness of the value of trees. This is demonstrated by a 5% increase in the number of managed and developed communities per year, an increase in the number of certified arborists by 10% per year, an increase in the number of Tree City USAs by 10% per year, and increased attendance at professional meetings.

 

Issue 3. Tree Maintenance Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

Health and longevity of the community forest is degraded when community forest managers do not have current research, technology and proper tree care techniques and standards at hand. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for managing community forests have been developed, but most communities have not adopted BMPs, or do not cite proper standards for tree care in tree ordinances. By implementing this plan we seek to improve the health and longevity of the urban forest. This can be measured by the dollar value of growth of the tree care service industry that employs certified arborists.

 

Issue 4. Local Ordinances & Policies that Regulate Land Development 

Current regulations are preventing land development in which community forests are conserved and enhanced. Local authorities must change regulations to allow, modify, and promote development that conserves and enhances community forestry. We seek to encourage local authorities to change these regulations. This is measured by a 5% annual increase in the number of local ordinances that meet a protection goal, enforcement clause, penalty clause and suggested staffing level.

 

Issue 5. Professional Expertise to Promote Sustainable Community Forestry 

Many communities do not utilize professional expertise for managing their community forest resources. Awareness of and access to sources of professional urban forestry and arboricultural expertise must be increased. We seek to increase awareness of and access to professionals by certifying 300 landscape professionals through the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional (GCLP) Program and certifying 250 Certified Arborists through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

 

Issue 6. Design with Tree Longevity in Mind 

Poor design and increased use of hardscape contributes to the loss of tree growing space and community forest decline because designers are not trained and educated in tree biology. We seek to create a tree design standard module for design professionals.