Urban Forestry Program Evaluation
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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Urban Forestry Program Evaluation Report
Who's Listening
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Phone 703-385-7816 Email stefanie.kupka@fairfaxva.gov
Urban Forest Survey
I strongly agree with several of the commenters below. The city needs an urban forest manager and to implement an urban forestry program based on the evaluation report. The manager should have a degree of autonomy to make decisions in whichever department the urban forestry division is housed. In addition, the urban forestry program should have a dedicated funding source and budget to manage Fairfax's urban forest resource.
The city desperately needs an urban forester. This person should be given authority to advocate for trees, and should be given independent authority on behalf of the city trees. It is of no value to have this person tell you what is the proper thing to do, and then be overruled by someone who has no knowledge or concern for our trees. Get rid of all the invasive Bradford pear trees—no one should be planting them. Get rid of the lollipop trees—4 next to old town hall and the herd at the traffic circle—they are an ugly money pit. There are invasive vines growing on many trees in our natural areas; these vines are killing our trees. Get some training to ID the invasives and learn how to deal with them.
So pleased to learn the City of Fairfax is planning an Urban Forestry Program. I live in Fairfax Town Estates (Green Acres area), and each morning the birds sing, trees and all kinds of vegetation are coming alive as we welcome the spring. The commercial development over the years has grown. Feeling the importance of incorporating spaces all over our city where nature thrives in balance with all we have now and what our city is capable of becoming. Knowing each tree planted and each space of green saved benefits our children, all of our citizens and our future in ways beyond what we today can even imagine.
I am pleased that the City of Fairfax is developing an Urban Forestry Program to care for our trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. I moved here over 30 years ago because of the beautiful trees. Since then we’ve lost too many.
Kudos for your efforts to develop an urban forestry program for Fairfax City. As an environmental educator and certified Fairfax Tree Steward who works and conducts business in Fairfax, I strongly recommend you develop an urban forestry program with a dedicated funding source, dedicated budget and sufficient staff to protect and manage Fairfax's valuable urban forest resource, thereby maximizing the benefits your citizens can receive from it.
Urban forests have been proven to save municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars (via ecosystem services that benefit everyone in the community, such as stormwater management, air quality impovement and carbon sequestration), raise property values, reduce energy costs, lower crime rates, and provide vital habitat for wildlife.
Urban Forests require active management to remain healthy and effective and to avoid ecosystem disservices resulting from lack of management, which wastes money in the long run.
Learn why it will be important to actively manage Fairfax's urban forest with a dedicated funding source, staff and budget at http://bit.ly/WhyManageUrbanForests, the US Forest Service's report on the benefits of urban forests and the importance of active urban forest management. Thank you.
Stop allowing developers to clear cut. Replacing beautiful existing trees with small new trees is unnecessary. Want to raise revenue? Raise luxury tax on cigarettes, beer, wine 2-3 cents. Raise gas tax one penny. Stop raising sewer rates! I agree with Dennis.