Urban Forestry Summit: Creating Effective Policy for Increasing Tree Canopy
Local governments have struggled with the best ways to promote and protect trees that add diverse benefits to their communities, including stormwater runoff reduction, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and cleaning the air. Often regulations that require mitigation for tree cutting are seen as unfair and punitive, and can actually motivate clearing of urban forests before development.
The City of Tigard, collaborating with diverse stakeholders that included homebuilders, developers, arborists, planners and Tualatin Riverkeepers recently adopted a new urban forestry code that prevents clearing before development and encourages steady growth of tree canopy in the city.
Using Tigard's approach as a model, Tualatin Riverkeepers with the support of numerous sponsors is hosting a workshop to help local governments improve their urban forestry policies and regulations to motivate steady growth in tree canopy. We are holding a workshop on November 18 for planners, developers, homebuilders, arborists, community members, and others interested in effective urban forestry codes and programs that increase the benefits of trees in our communities.
Lunch provided.
Sponsors: Tualatin Riverkeepers, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Community Trees, Clean Water Services, Teragan and Associates, Homebuilders Association of Metropolitan Portland, City of Tigard, The Intertwine Alliance, Bullitt Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust
Audience: City planners and staff dealing with urban trees or ordinances, elected officials, local developers/home builders, grass-roots organizations, and local NGO's.
