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ear Community £eader,By, the year, 2020, nine’ out of ten Florida residents wilL live in urban areas. With the bounding growth of ourstate, ‘those who care about Florida’s future must plan today for healthy, green, attractive cities of tomorrow.

The Florida’ Urban Forestry Council is a non-profit, statewide organization that educates Eommunity leaders onhow to lan, plant and’ protect their local’ urban forests. Every city’s trees are’nflueced by the dynamicinteraction of people and their policies on planning and managing their urban forest. Municipal trees needtrained profe’ssional.s, enlightened planners, and caring citizens who recognize the social, ‘economic,environmental, and.aesthetic potential.of a well-managed coriirnunity forestry program.

With the ‘cooperation of the Florida Division of Forestri; the Florida Urban Forestry Council has developed theccompanying strategic plan ‘for urban and community forestry in Florida. Because’ urban forestry involves soniany .disciplines — including growers, retail ‘and whotesale nurseries, [and-ue planners, roadway engineers,tree-trimmer’s, certified arbàrists, foresters, horticulturists, landscapers, public works and parks departments,

• civi groups, tree boards, and volunteers—this plan is not intended as a prescription for any singLe entity.Rather, it’is a resource guide for decision-makers aI all levels to help them consider all the aspects of acomprehensive’ urban fàrestry’program. ,

‘ As planners; managers and citizens,’we encourage you to take steps to ensure that the benefits of your• community’surban forest will. continue, to grow for generations to come. We encourage your participation andfeedback. For further informatior, please contact the Florida Urban Forestry Council.

• Sincerely, ‘.

Anna Dooley ‘ ,

2000-2001’ PresidentFlorida Urban Forestry Council

FLORIDA

URBANFORESTRYCOUNCIL

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• ¶Table of Contents

Part’T.A Vison forUrbanand Community Forestry in FLoridaResponding to Challenge’s to the Urban Forest 4GoáLI: Educate the public on the fulL benefits of wetL-managed urban foret 5GoatII: Promote the active ‘involvement of citizen groups and votupteers

in Urban and Commuiity Forestry 5GaL III: Foster professionalism in Urban and Community Forestry 6Gol IV: Promote best practices in tIee care, production and management 6Goal V: Seek legislation and funding to support Urban and

Community Forestry Programs 7Goat VI: Encurage research in Florida Urban and Community Forestry 7Goat VII: Provide for a fire-safe urban and community forest 7

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Part II. FLorida’s Setting for Urban ForestryBenefits of Urban Forests 9

Part III. History of Urban Forestry in floridaPhysiography of Florida 111970: Florida Division of Forestry Begins Involvement 12National Strategic Plan 121991: Florida- Urban Forestry Council Formed 131993:’ Municipalities Surveyed 14Florida Plan

•15

Tree City USA Progam 151995: Technical Assistance from Florida Division of Forestry Eliminated 151999 15

:2000 and Beyond 15

AdditionaL Resources 16

cPart I: Visionfor cUrban and Community orestry in Morida

S6med&y, all local governments inFlorida will have community forestry

• programs, that perpè’tuate and support adiverse, well-managed urbanjorest. This

- effort will be staffed by professionals• and incórpbrated”into comprehensive

land-use plans. Citizens and ‘electedofficial4 at all levels will recognize theirurban forest asa valuable asset thatcontribUtes to the social, economic

• and environmental vitality of theircommunities. ,

The urban forest is, in essence, “theforest where we live.” Trees are animportant part of every urbanlandscape. They shade our streets,coot our homes, provide jrivacy to ouryards, reduce glare, trap air-borne,pollutants, and generally make Flórida’sc’ommunities more’beautiful, pleasant -

and healthful places in which to live..In recent years,. the urban fo,rest’ismore frequently looked.upon as anurban ecosystem ancj part of a city’sgreen infrastructure.

Urban forestry is a specialized branchof forestry that cultivates and managestrees for their present and potentialcontribution to the physiological,sociological and economic well-beingof the urban society.

The Green Industry refers toprofessionals, educators, businesses,and trade interests that are involved inthe planning, production, installation,maintenance, sales, and regulation ofoutdoor landscapes.

Responding to ChalLenges to the Urban Forest

If Floridians are to have environmentally-healthy communities in which to live, it isvital that strategies be implemented at the national, state and local level to ensurethe development and perpetuation of their urban forests. But unfortunately,America’s urban forests are losing ground. In a survey conducted by AMERICANFORESTS of twenty major US cities:

• Approximately one-half of towns and cities have no routine tree maintenanceprogram at all.

• More than 50 percent of the tree planting spaces along city streets are empty.

• About 75 percent of cities do not regularly survey the condition of theirurban forest.

• Removing dead and dying trees is backlogged in 80 percent of cities surveyed.

• Communities will need to plant trees at four times the current rate just tomaintain the same number of living trees.

Goal I: Educate the public. on the fuLl benefits of wçlL-managed

urban forests. .

i. Encourage the deveLopnie’iit. ofcommunication materiaLs on th importance

and value of urban and çàñrnunit forests

a. Develop public service ‘arnouncements for the print and broadcast ñiedia.

b. Develop a statewide späker’s bureau and publish a speaker’s lureau brocIure.

c. Create a c-leariri’ghouse. of.,postérs and articles and distribute them upon request.

d. Develop and distribute fesource list of Floridians involved in urban.forestry.

2. DeveLop and promote educationaL comnjunication programs on specific topics.

a. Develop “Right Tree/RjghPlace” programs f&’the .publk’.

b. Educate on exotic invasiv species and hè damage they do.

c. Educate on spec-ies diverit andthe, wiLdlife Iabitat value of the urbn forest.

d. Educate on the incidencé àid treatment pf insect and disease problems of trees.

e. Educate on high wiidhaiards of some tree and wind reistance of others.

f. Develop a preservation”campaign for notable or specimen trées , ‘ -

g. Increase the public’s understanding of what a certified arbrist is.

h. Educate the public about pàststorm tree preservation techniques. -

i. Educate the public about fle prevention strategies fdr wodded homesites. -s

j. Educate the public abut potentiaL pollen hazards of söme trees. -

Goal II: Promote the active involvement of citizen groups andvoLunteers in Urban and Community Forestry.

1’. Encourage and faciLitate the development of voLunteer citizen groups.a. Recognize the achievements of community forestry volunteers and volunteer

• organizations.b. DeveLop local directories of volunteer tree groups.c. Identify funding sources and refer volunteer groups with projects to potential

• sources. •: -

th Develop a volunteer group mentoring program.• e. Dévelop-trinihg programs for volunteer groups

f. Develop funding sources for non-profit organizations for maintenance ofvolunteer projectcand programs.

2. CeLebrate your community’s trees.a. Hold Arbor Day programs for schools, youth-groups, civic groups, and plant

societies. - . V

b. Encourage tree plantings for Earth Day and other holiday programs.

GoaL III. Foster professionaLism in Urban and Community Forestry.

1. Provide professional education programs for urban forestry practitioners.a. Hold an annual, stateWide conference in urban and community forestry.b. Develop a training needs assessment by discipline.c. Provide continuing education opportunities for practitioners at the local,

regional and state levels.d. Develop a recognition program for participation in urban forestry continuing

educatipn ; .

e. Review existing training’materials and recommend the best.f. Identify professional qualifications for urban forestry positions.

2. Encourage and promote certification for all Green Industry professionaLs.a. Investigate a state-licensing program for arborists.b. Promote International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification for all

arborists.c. Create a referral system to recommend qualified or certified arborists by region

and county.d. Promote certification for professionals in urban forestry or related fields in

professional organizations such as ISA, SAF, LMA, FNCP, and others.

3. Encourage a healthy job market for educated urban forestry professionaLs.a. Ensure that Urban Forestry is represented at job fairs at colleges and high

schools.b. Develop a mntoring program for colleges and high schools; i.e. “Forester for A

Day.” •

c. Employ or engage ISA certified ucban forestry professionals or consultants.d. Encourage use 6f licensed landscape architects.e. Encourage use of certified landscape contractors or installers.f. Have plans prepared and reviewed by urban foresters, state-licensed architects,

qualified utility foresters, or certified arborists.

Goal IV. Promote best practices in tree care, production andmanagement,

1. LocaL governments shouLd improve their urban forest programs and policies.a. Review their tree and landscape ordinances for the seven components of a

comprehensive urban forestry program: tree protection, tree planting, treeinventory, publications/promotion, education, scheduled tree maintenance, andhazard tree identification and abatement.

b. Develop model bid and maintenance specifications.c. Support the distribution of technical training materials to public practitioners.d. Strive to produce a sOstainable urban forest (suitable for local sites and soils)

diverse in tree species and, with the highest grades and standards possible within the species. The Council favors the use of native species when possible.

e.-’Set urban forestry g6als of accomplishments, the appropriate personnel andfunding to reach those goals, and periodic evaluations to determine progressmade.

Example of goals may be as follows: “By year 2020, Anytown, FL will be multi-aged and fullystocked with healthy site selected trees through an active program by: 1) planting 2,000 stre’etside trees and 1,000 park trees; 2) pruning all trees to remove dead and hazardous limbs andlimb removal required to meet overhead street and sidewalk/roadside clearances; and 3) throughthe removal and replacement of all identified hazardous trees.”

2. The Florida Urban Forestry Council should:a. Reach municipalities that have never applied for Urban and Community Forestry

grants.b. Survey local governments on problems and weaknesses they have encountered

in bid and maintejance specifications.c. Publish a directory of communities with outstanding tree programs that have

the seven components of a comprehensive urban forestry program: treeprotection, tree planting, tree inventory, publications/promotion, education,scheduled tree maintenance, and hazard tree identification and abatement.

d. Develop for distribution recommended suitable tree species listings for plantingin each section of Florida.

Goal V. Seek legisLation andfunding to support Urban andCommunity Forestry programs.

1. DeveLop coaLitions for supportiveLegisLation for urban forestry.

2. ALL LeveLs of government shouLdincrease funding to pLant andmaintain trees on public and privateproperty.

3. PoLicymakers shouLd pass LegisLation to restrict state and local saleand planting of exotic pest pLants.

GoaL VI. Encourage research inFLorida Urban and CommunityForestry.

1. Encourage opportunities for publicand private research in urban andcommunity forestry.

2. Communicate needs andfindings to estabLished researchorganizations.

3. Seek additionaL funding sourcesfor urban forestry research.

4. DeveLop high-quaLity cuLtivars foruse as street trees.

5. Conduct cost-benefit anaLyses tobetter understand implications ofLand-use decisions on urban forests.

Goal VII. Provide for afire-safe urban and communityforest.

1. Educate citizens about thedangers of wiLdfire in the wildLand/urban interface.

2. Encourage LocaL governments toassess the wiLd Land/urban interfacefire hazard within their jurisdictionas part of the State of FLorida’s“Fire Wise Communities” initiativecoordinated by the Florida Divisionof Forestry.

3. Encourage Local governments toincorporate provisions for fire wiseLandscaping in LocaL treeprotection/Landscaping ordinances.

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cPart H: Morida’s Settingfor Urban $orestry

Benefits of Urban Forests

For policymakers and citizens to dedicate resources to their city’s trees, people need

to recognize the value and benefits of healthy urban forests. Welt-funded urban

forestry programs can be seen as an investment in one of the city’s most important

assets and a major contributor to the economic, social, environmental, and aesthetic

standards of excellence for the city.

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• Trees are important energy savers. According to a U.S. Forest Service reort,trescover 28°Io of residential areas in the United States, and the cooling.effect of thiscanopy means an annual savings of amost $2 billion per year orabout 5% of allenergy use in the United States. ‘‘s,. -

• The urban tree cleans the air by removing up to 26 pounds of carbon dioxide and• releasing about 13 pounds of oxygen, every year.. Leaves and twis of a mature ‘tree

c’apture up to 50 pounds of airborne dust and dirt particles each year..

• Trees clean and reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing rainfall and slowing’itsvelocity. This reduces sediment volume and erosion.. ‘

• Urban trees provide food, shelter and nestirig sites for birds and other forrnsofwildlife and are essential to the health of seasonal migrating flocks.

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.‘• Trees stabilize neighborhoods and add character and real estate value. Shadedsidewalks encourage outdoor recreation, and ‘more people outdoors stroiling andbiking is an effective deterrent against crime. •

• . . Well-cared-for mature trees add 5-7% to the sale price of a home. A tree-filled lotwilt sell for up to 15%. more thana bare lot.

- • Retent retail studies show that shopers are willing to drive further and pay up to: 11% higher prices at stores on tree-lined streets.

• Trees make urban areas quieter, cooler and more attractiveto residents and visitors.They also can shield uisightly areas from view. . • .

• Trees contribute to community pride and sense of ownership Involving volunteersin planting and caring for trees increases civic involvement in tangible and, longlasting-ways. .‘ • .

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cPartff[: flistOry’ofcUrban $orestry in Morida

Trees have been associated with Florida toWns and cities since the peninsula wasacquired from Spain in 1821. The streets of Tallahassee, the territorial capitol ofFlorida, were laid out on a grid, with wooded city blocks left as greenspace on four sidesof the capitol grounds.’ During the Florida “Bbom Years” of the 1920’s, many CentralFlorida communities planted laurel oaks (Quercus launfolia,) along public streets andrights-of-way. The legacy àfter.rnore -than seventy years can now be seen ashigh-maintenance, over-mature, high-liability street trees.

Physiography of florida -

- Florida is a peninsula of about 54,136 square miles surrounded on thiee sides by theAtlantic Ocean and the Gulf of’Mexico. The above sea level’portion of the State isprt of ageographical formation nearly 500 miles long nd only an average of 100.miles wide. SaLt-tolerance is a factor in selecting urban trees in coastal areas. -

Soils are generally sandy in nature and vary from shallow and sandy underlain withclayey sand to excessively drained profiles of uniform sands. Approximately one-thirdof the soils are too excessively drained, the remainder having imperfect to poordraine due to flat topography and underlying compact subsoils. In extreme SouthFlofda, porous ootite limestone prevails.

Florida is susceptible to the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes. The hurricaneseason extends from June through November with the greatest likelihood of storms in

.July,’August and September. Since 1885, the State has never gone more than threeyears without a tropical storm, or more than five years without a hurricane. Thedestructiveness of hurricane force winds poses a significant threat to Florida urbanforest resources.

• Florida is blessd with abundant rainfall in normal years. There are two distinctseasons if precipitation—a “rainy season” usually from June to September and a “dryeãson”in,the winter-months. The northwestern section of the State may have asecond, though lesser, rainy5season in Late winter and early spring.

Droughts, however, are not uncommon. Several dry peiQds over one or two years,coupled with an ever-increasing use pf water in urban areas, can mean strict ‘ ‘

regulation of outdoor residential water ue and lower water-tables. This canfrequently complicate irrigation of planted trees in the urban environment.

The state falls within four USDA Plant.Hardiness Zones, dictating appopriate treechoices for urban foresters. Zones 8, 9 and 10 roughly -correspond with the north,central and southern portions of the state. Zone 11 occurs over the Florida Keys.

As a result of adequate rainfall, a warm climate and abundant lake, streams andrivers, Florida has an unusually’large variety of indigenous flora, and fauna, includingover 300 species of nativetrees and approximately 3,500 vascular plant species. Over425 species of birds (including, rnigratdry species) or-about 1/2 of all bird species inthe United States occur in Florida. The Florida Game ‘and Fresh’ Water Fish .‘

Commission’s 1994 Official Lists of Endangered and Potentially Endangered Fauna andFlora in Florida provides a summary of plant and -animal sécies that-are endangered,threatened, or otherwise vulnerable, mostly due to loss of habitat. Providing foodsources for wildlife and migrating birds through selection of appropriate tree speciesis a viable tool in urban forestry. ‘‘

‘ -

The State also has a large number of introduced (non-native) or exotic plants andanimals. Many non-native flowering trees are Well suited to the harshness of theurban environment and have proven to be beautiful additions to cityscapes. ‘ -.

Unfortunately, a large number of the exotic plants have “escaped” from.urban areas tobecome pest plants, invading disturbed sites to replace native plant communities..The Exotic Pest Plant touncil publihes a-list of Florida’s Most-Invasive Species andthe control of pest plants poses additional management challengesto resource - -

managers. - - -.

11

• A tatewide approach to urban treè care-. did not’ come until 1970 when Florida

was selected by the U.s. FoIest Service.âsoe of three states’ for a pilot project

• ‘oftechnica1 assistance i’n urban forestry.To ac’commodate the ne program the197.1 Florida Legislature amended theState’s existing ‘County Forester LaW(F.S. 589.28) toa1low theDepartmentof Agriculture to.cooperáte with citiesand counties’ by providing technicalassistance with urban forestry programs.

• The amended lav fOllows:

•‘589.28.County Commissioh or.municipalities authorized to cooperate ‘ -

• with Division of Fdrestr . County• cornq?issions ‘or municipalities are

authorized to cooperate with the’Divi,üonof Fârestry of thd Department of

.Agricultur,and Consumer Ser,ices in• proi.iding assistance in forestry and for-

• est-eldted knowiedge”anctskills ‘to. stimu‘late the production of &nber wealth,-thrbugh the proper iise offorest land andto protect and improve the’ beauty’ of•urban and suburban area by helpiñg to

• create in them an attractive and healthyenvironment through the’proer us? oftrees and related. plant associations.County Commissions orthunidpalitie ae

hereby.,authorized to appropriate fundsand enter into cooperative agreementswith the, Division of Forestry under ‘theterms and conditions set forth inF5.589.28589.34.”

The Division ofJorestry of theDepartment of Aricufture andConsumerServices coordinated the State offlorida’s Urban nd Community ForestryProgram By agreement with the fedçralgovernment, the State Forester of Florida

• (Director of the Division of Forestry) was• responsible for the delivery of federal,

technical urban and community forestry• programs.

,‘The state’s urban forestry pro’ramsteadily grew from 1971 to 1994. —

Florida saw the expansion of.the Divisionof Forestry’s urban forestry program, thecreation of municipal and county urbanforestry departments staffed by. trainedprofessionals, the establishment ofprivate firms’ specializing ‘in urbanforestry’ consulting or arboriculturalconsulting, the expansion of utilityfôrestryprograrns, and the forñ’iation ofmany ron-profit volunteer tree dvocacygroups ‘throughout,the State:

1970: FLorida Division ‘of Forestry Begins InvoLvement NationaL Strategic PLan

The U.S. Congress, as a part of the 1990 Farm, Bill, authorized the Secretary ofAgriculture to establish a fifteen-person National Urban and Community ForestryAdvisory Council fo, develop and implement a national urban and community forestrystrategic plan. The national strategic p1n, developed in October of 1993, listed sixmajorgdals: . •

• Tocultivate an understanding and appreciationof the social, economic,environmental, nd a’ethetic value of trees, forests and related resources in cities

sand communities.

• To foster high quality, self-sistaining municipal and community volunteer programsto manage and protect’ urban forests.

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• To coordinate and develop’multiple-cultural professional training and educationalprograms for urban foresters, arborists and others working in related disciplines.

• To stimulate additional funding from traditional and non-traditional sources.

• To support significantly expanded research and assure widespread distribution ofthe findings. . .

• To promote partnerships with the public.

1991: Florida Urban ForestryCouncil Farmed

In 1991, the Florida Urban F6restryCouncIl was .incorporated a a nonprofit Florida corporation “to act as aforum, resource, catalyst, Liison andadvocat@’ concerning urban ‘forestryissues within ‘the State of Florida.”The Council promotes sound urbanforestry’ poliEes and jractices byeducating citi±ens and communitiesthroughout the ‘state The ExecutiveCommittee meets (iIsually.in theCentral Florida area) approximately sixtimes a year to.conduct Councilbusiness. An annual business meetingof the entire Council is heLd at thestate conference. The Council hasemployed an executive director since1997.

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The twenty-sfx (26.) member Executive Committee is composed of:• One member who is employed as a city arbàrist• One member whc is employed as a private arborist ,

• One member who is empLoyed as a utility forester• One member from a tree advocacy group• One member from the Florida League ofCities• One meniber from the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association• One member from the Florida Recreation and Park Associaton• One member from ‘the American SOciety of Lanscape Architects, Florida Chapter• One member from the staff of th Florida Department of Transportation

One. member from the Cooperative Extension Servièe• One member from the Society of American Foresters• One member from the International Society of Arboriculture Florida Chapter• One, member from the Florida Institute of Parks Personnel• Four members-at-large• Immediate Past’I5?’esidnt ‘

• Six’ advisory members on annual ppointments’• Liaisons from the. Florida Division of Forestry. ‘

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‘Membership’ in the florida Urban Forestry CoUncil is open to all indiiduals, communitiesand organizations interested in urban and community forestiy.’ The Council hascoordinated the annual state Uiban and Community”Forestry Conference e’ach year for

‘the’ past ten years in ‘various, cities arbUnd ,the state. Speakers, ,‘ianelists and breakoutsessions on a variety ‘of pertinent topics are’offered ‘and reaignition awards arepresented to outstanding municipalities, professionals, non-profit groups, andvolunteei’s in urban’forestry: ‘ ‘. ‘ “ ‘ S

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.1993: MuflicipaLit’ies Sürveyéd

In.,May of 1993, he Florida Diviioii of. Forestry mailed a 36-question sur’?ey to

• 397 Florida incorporated areas: Thepurpose of the survey was to assessthe status of municipal pràgrarnsstatewide and ‘determine needs, ofFlorida towns, cities and villages.Forty-percent (159) of the survy’formswere completed by the individualresponsible’ for community trees andreturned to the Division 6f’ Fóréstry.The composite inforT1ation provides an

-interesting glimpse of MunicipalForestry in Florida. . .

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that they have a

1. Personnel. 38 respondents (24°Io) indicated’that’the individual responsible for thecommunity trees had a background. ina natural resburce or related field.

2. Inventory: 37 (23,io) hadconducted a tree inventry of some type..3. Problems: The three most critical community forestry ‘problems were:

1) Tree rnaintehance. .\ . , . .2) Public education. :. .

.3) Tree planting . .. : ‘ ‘ .

4. ScheduLing of tree trimming á’ndremovals (multiple’ansves’ were aLlowed):In response to tree/Limb falls 88%When spe,cifically requested by a citien ..81°IoAt regularly scheduled intervals” 37°IoBy work order’ based uponinventory. data ..26%

5. Budgeting:’75 (54%) of. the municipalities responding indicated• specific budget for tree care and maintenance.

A. Budget Allocàtidns were: •

‘ 1) 49% - Tree trimming/removals ‘4) 7%- Other

2) 27% - Tree planting • 5) 5°Io - Training3) 9% - AdministratiorT . ‘ 6) 3°Io - Education

B. Sourêe of tree care.budget funds (multiple answers were allowed):General Revenue 116 respondentsOrdinance Violation Fines 18SpeciaL Tax o Assessment . . .. 6Other 27• • 6. Species: Most frequently p[anted street tries (in order of mention):1. Live Oak • . 2.Crape MyrtLe’ , 3. Sabal Palm

‘4. Laurel Oak • 5. Red Maple‘,7-. Publjc Perêeption: Interest in community trees on a scale of 1-tow to 10-high:

Meanres’ponse 6.3 • • •

8. Activities that have contributed to the success of community forestry programs:I. Arbor Day programs •

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., 2. Tree City USA•

- 3. Tree Plantirgs

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Florida Plan.. Tree City USA Program 1999

The first Floriaa Strategic PLan, deveLoped in 1994 by the F1orida Division ofForestry iñd Florida Urban ForestryCouncil, w’as reviewed it ten publicmeetings throughout Florida (March10-April 13, 1995) in Pensacola,Tamja, Tallahassee, Fort 1yer,Jacksonville, Bradenton, GainesvilLe,North Miami; Orlando and’Fort,LauderdaLe. CoIn ments received fromparticipants at those meetings weeiñcorporated into the original .dôcurtent in 1995.

By 1995, 120 Florida towns, cities, counties or military bases received a Tree City USAAward. (There are 405 cities and 67 counties in all.) This award is presented eachyear by the National Arbor Day Foundation to municipalities, counties or militarybases that develop or continue comprehensive tree care programs. Award recipientsmust meet the following standards and be recommended for the award by the StateForester:

1. Have a tree board or department charged by ordinance with the responsibility ofimplementing an urban forestry program.

2. Have a tree protection ordinance that establishes standards for public tree care.3. Have an annual plan for management of the community trees funded by at least

$2 per capita.4. Have an annual Arbor Day proclamation and ceremony.

The Tree City USA Program focuses community attention on tree planting and treecare and maintenance activities. As a result, citizens become more personally interested in tree planting and in the care of city trees in parks and atong streets andboulevards.

1995: Technical Assistance from Florida Division of ForestryEliminated

In 1995, the Florida Legislature amended F.S. 589.28 and eliminated the FloridaDivision of Forestry’s authority to provide technical urban forestry assistance.Twenty-five urban forester positions were eliminated. This now increases theimportance of the role of local governments and volunteer groups to providetechnical urban forestry assistance to the citizens of Florida.

Florida Division of Forestry requestedthat the Florida Urban Forestry Councilrevise and update the Strategic Planand focus on the development of thegoals and objectives for the comingdecade.

2000 and Beyond

The Florida Division of Forestry and theFlorida Urban Forestry CounciL willreview progress toward attainment ofthe goals of the Strategic PLan on anannual basis. Plan revisions will bemade periodically to: (1) revise oradjust goals to reflect the political,economic and environmental climate ofthe time, (2) incorporate changes innational and state legislation andpolicy, and (3) incorporate changes oradvances in technology and researchfindings.

1dditional esources

• Federal LiaisonRegioiial ForesterUSDA Forest Service Southern Iegion1720 Peachtree Road, N.W.•Atlanta Georgia 30367

I..• State Forester

Florida Division of ForestryDivision of Forestry Liaison3125 Conner Boulevard C25Tllahassee, FL 32399-1650(850) 414-9912

FLorida League of Cities301 South Bronough StreetTallahassee, FL 32302-1757(850) 222-9684

Florida.Nurseryrnen and Growers• Association

1533 Park Center DriveOr[ando,’FL •32835-5705(407) 295-7994 or (800) 375-3642

FLorida Recreation and ParkAssociation411 Office Plaza DriveTaLlahassee, FL 32301(850) 878-3221

American Society of LandscapeArchitects, FLorida Chapter1817 Briarcliff RoadWinter Park, FL 32792(407) 672-2177

Florida Department of Transportation605. Suwannee StreetTallahassee, FL 32399-0450(850) 414-5205

University of Florida CooperativeExtension ServiceUniversity of Florida1038 McCarty Hall DBox 110210Gainesville, FL 32610(352) 392-1761

Society of American Foresters5400 Grosvenor LaneBethesda, MD 20814(301) 897-8720

InternationaL Society ofArboricutture/FL ChapterPost Office Box 13016Gainesville, FL 32604(352) 379-3808

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