Urban Forestry Program Evaluation

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The Urban Forestry Program Evaluation has concluded. The report is posted on this page. 

The quality, health, and connectivity of our urban ecosystem is a major contributor to the quality of life for Fairfax City residents. Caring for the city’s urban forest is an important part of growing a sustainable, healthy, and vibrant city.

The City of Fairfax is developing an Urban Forestry Program to protect and enhance the city’s urban forest – trees, shrubs, and other vegetation within parks, along streets, in private yards, on empty lots, and in natural areas.

This project includes:

  • Evaluating existing policies and plans to gauge the city’s readiness for improved urban forest management;
  • Discussions and research to chart the city’s existing workflows and operations;
  • Assessments and analyses of existing conditions;
  • Benchmarking research to compare the city’s urban forest to industry standards;
  • Community engagement;
  • And a systematic urban forest audit.

Outcomes of these planning elements will inform recommendations in the Urban Forestry Program Evaluation Report. The final report will establish a clear set of attainable goals, priorities, and objectives related to the goal of maintaining a productive and beneficial urban forest.

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The quality, health, and connectivity of our urban ecosystem is a major contributor to the quality of life for Fairfax City residents. Caring for the city’s urban forest is an important part of growing a sustainable, healthy, and vibrant city.

The City of Fairfax is developing an Urban Forestry Program to protect and enhance the city’s urban forest – trees, shrubs, and other vegetation within parks, along streets, in private yards, on empty lots, and in natural areas.

This project includes:

  • Evaluating existing policies and plans to gauge the city’s readiness for improved urban forest management;
  • Discussions and research to chart the city’s existing workflows and operations;
  • Assessments and analyses of existing conditions;
  • Benchmarking research to compare the city’s urban forest to industry standards;
  • Community engagement;
  • And a systematic urban forest audit.

Outcomes of these planning elements will inform recommendations in the Urban Forestry Program Evaluation Report. The final report will establish a clear set of attainable goals, priorities, and objectives related to the goal of maintaining a productive and beneficial urban forest.

Join the Conversation

For the best experience, register to participate in all the activities. Take the poll, share your story, suggest an idea, and leave a comment.

Use the social buttons to invite others to participate in the discussion.

Share your stories about trees in the city.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Please take the poll, suggest an idea, and leave a comment. 

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Tree lover here on Facebook Share Tree lover here on Twitter Share Tree lover here on Linkedin Email Tree lover here link

    Tree lover here

    by DawnS, about 5 years ago

    I’m not sure if I had the opportunity to take the poll back in October of 2020, but I am a huge tree lover. I garden in my own yard, and I do my best to keep my husband from killing our trees. I read this extensive draft. My mind is a bit numb afterwards. The need for maintenance, protection, and support of our trees has always existed. I wonder how you implement and measure for an added tax on storm water run off? My property is a serious pass through for runoff from other properties. How is that going... Continue reading

    I’m not sure if I had the opportunity to take the poll back in October of 2020, but I am a huge tree lover. I garden in my own yard, and I do my best to keep my husband from killing our trees. I read this extensive draft. My mind is a bit numb afterwards. The need for maintenance, protection, and support of our trees has always existed. I wonder how you implement and measure for an added tax on storm water run off? My property is a serious pass through for runoff from other properties. How is that going to work? I have thoughtfully constructed ground tactics to slow the runoff, but the actually geography is against me here. I consciously choose trees that are native, and I plan on adding at least two more trees to me quarter acre after losing a large, old maple in the last year or so. My only concern is that storm water tax. I didn’t read the appendices on this draft. Is it in there? As it is, our waste water tax is climbing every year. It is actually outpacing our water usage costs.

    Finally, how are we going to address the obvious loss of the trees along Route 66? While they weren’t a part of the city tree audit, they do affect our audited trees health and longevity. The loss of those buffer trees along 66is placing strain on the community and private trees in close proximity.

  • Share VERY SAD on Facebook Share VERY SAD on Twitter Share VERY SAD on Linkedin Email VERY SAD link

    VERY SAD

    by LisaC, about 5 years ago

    I share Oscar’s feelings about the pine tree that stood in downtown Fairfax. It was a gorgeous, heathy tree, and an icon in the heart of the city. Was it really necessary to take it down? I cried when I drove by and saw that it was cut, piece after piece. It took years to grow, and only one day to be destroyed. That is extremely sad, but unfortunately “ profit” is often prevailing. I hope one day humans will learn to live more harmoniously and respectfully with the beauty of nature. And I hope the City of Fairfax will... Continue reading

    I share Oscar’s feelings about the pine tree that stood in downtown Fairfax. It was a gorgeous, heathy tree, and an icon in the heart of the city. Was it really necessary to take it down? I cried when I drove by and saw that it was cut, piece after piece. It took years to grow, and only one day to be destroyed. That is extremely sad, but unfortunately “ profit” is often prevailing. I hope one day humans will learn to live more harmoniously and respectfully with the beauty of nature. And I hope the City of Fairfax will plant some new trees to honor the loss of the one many of us loved.

  • Share Heartbreaking on Facebook Share Heartbreaking on Twitter Share Heartbreaking on Linkedin Email Heartbreaking link

    Heartbreaking

    by OscarSam, over 5 years ago

    The difficult year has multiple dimensions, including the loss of many trees. 17 tall oak trees have been destroyed near my home in under 3 weeks time. While this event was going on, I drove to work one morning and noticed that some buildings had been torn down in the city. One was the old surf shop. But the glorious, perfectly proportioned old tree there still stood, it’s beauty standing out against the early morning sky. This gave me some peace, until the very next morning, when the beautiful tree was nothing but a heap of freshly cut wood. Why... Continue reading

    The difficult year has multiple dimensions, including the loss of many trees. 17 tall oak trees have been destroyed near my home in under 3 weeks time. While this event was going on, I drove to work one morning and noticed that some buildings had been torn down in the city. One was the old surf shop. But the glorious, perfectly proportioned old tree there still stood, it’s beauty standing out against the early morning sky. This gave me some peace, until the very next morning, when the beautiful tree was nothing but a heap of freshly cut wood. Why? It was not in the center of the site, and could have been protected. This goes on every single day around here so that contractors can move and build faster, more efficiently. My hope is that we here in the east can soon learn to appreciate a better type of development that minimizes destruction of trees and natural environments.