Presentation to the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition

February 26, 2015

TEN-YEAR URBAN

FORESTRY ACTION PLAN

Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan for the National Urban and Community Advisory Council

and the Community of Practice: 2016 – 2026

Project Overview

• The purpose of the effort is to review and assess the current state of urban and community forestry (UCF) in the United States, and to develop a Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan with recommendations for improving the status of urban and community forestry.

• The Action Plan will provide goals and actions developed by and for the UCF community of practice (all of you!).

• It is also intended to serve as a framework for funding priorities by the NUCFAC for the U.S.Forest Service’s National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program.

Overview

• Project and Advisory Teams

• Project Timeline and Phases

• Draft Action Plan Framework

o Mission, Vision, Principles

o Draft Goals

o Sample Action

• Feedback and Discussion

• How can the Community of Practice engage in and help implement the Ten-Year Action Plan?

• Contact information and how to engage!

• American Forests Foundation, Kathy McGlauflin: project oversight and contract management, expertise in UCF education programs.

• University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation ,Tanya Denckla Cobb: project direction and lead, facilitation and community engagement. IEN graduate associates and staff:Elise Cruz, Tatiana Marquez, and Ross Weaver

• Dialogue + Design Associates, Christine Muehlman Gyovai: senior project management, facilitation and community engagement.

• U.S. Forest Service, Nancy Stremple: project guidance, NUCFAC executive staff.

• University of Washington, Kathy Wolf: expertise in socio-ecological research.

• University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center, Jennifer Cotting and Eric Reed: finance and costing.

• University of Virginia McIntire School of Economics, Mark White: economic finance and costing.

Leadership & Project Team

Strategic Advisory Team

• Federal Interests: Ed Macie, Forest Service Urban Forestry Coordinator,

• State Interests: Nick Kuhn, State Urban Forestry Coordinator

• Municipal Interests: Angel Spell, City of Spokane

• Broad Community of Practice Interests, and NUCFAC liaison: Liam Kavanagh (Ten-Year Action Plan Chair)

• Professional Association and Nonprofit Interests: Jennifer Judd Hinrichs, Convener: Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition

• Scientific Community Interests: Lynne Westphal, Research Social Scientist, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service andBeth Larry, National Program Lead, Urban Research, USDA Forest Service

• Project Leadership members

Where Are We In the Planning Process?

Where We’re Going: DEVELOP AND FINALIZE THE PLAN

March– September

• Revise the Draft Action Plan with feedback on actions from the NUCFAC and the community of practice – April

• Develop the final complete Ten-Year Action Plan

• Obtain feedback (PT/ AT/ NUCFAC, Community of Practice)

• Develop / Design the Final Ten-Year Action Plan

o Dissemination of the Ten-Year Action Plan

o Evaluation of the Planning Process

Project website + input:

www.urbanforestplan.org

Draft Vision, Mission & PrinciplesThe draft VISION for the Action Plan:

Urban and community forests are diverse, healthy, and accessible and are integral to sustainable and resilient communities.

The draft MISSION for the Action Plan:

To build capacity and diversity that ensures urban and community forests are vibrant, sustainable, and resilient.

OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES

• IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF FORESTS,

PLANTS AND PEOPLE

• MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM

SUSTAINABILITY

• BUILD HUMAN AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEM

RESILIENCE

Action Plan Goals (please note – these are not presented in a priority order)

1. Integrate Urban and Community Forestry into All Scales of Planning

2. Improve Human Health and Wellness through Urban and Community

Forestry

3. Cultivate Diversity, Equity and Leadership Within the Urban Forestry

Community

4. Strengthen Urban and Community Forest Health and Biodiversity for

Long-Term Resilience

5. Diversify and Increase Funding and Collaboration for Urban and

Community Forestry

6. Improve Urban and Community Forestry Management, Maintenance and

Stewardship

7. Increase Public Awareness and Environmental Education to Promote

Stewardship

Draft Actions – Sample Action

DRAFT GOALS and ACTIONS

Goal 1. Integrate Urban and Community Forestry into All Scales of Planning

Action A. Support the development of master plans at the regional scale for urban forests.

1. NUCFAC: Fund development and implementation of two model regional UCF plans (for use by different communities including urban, rural, and tropical).

2. Community of Practice (CoP): Implement and replicate model regional urban forest master plan in two new regions every three years.

3. Research Action: Coordinate, expand and develop lists of locally grown, regionally-adapted, insect and pest resistant native species for each Forest Service region to facilitate regional pest management.

4. Geographic Action: A specific plan with resilient and biodiverse species for use in regional UCF plans will be developed for the Southwest region (and other regions as identified by need in outreach).

Next steps & How to Engage

Small group discussion:

How can the Community of Practice engage and help implement the Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan?

Let us know if you’d like to be involved! Share your contact information.

For more information:

www.urbanforestplan.org

www.fs.fed.us/ucf/nucfac.shtml

Christine Muehlman Gyovai

christine@dialogueanddesign.com

434-962-8358

Thank you for your feedback!