An in-depth article covers the history and current issues involved in tree cutting near billboards.

• Supported 17 significant urban forestry projects that provided California with 72,000 workforce hours supporting 140 jobs,
• Delivered important education to nonprofits and community organizations through our newsletter and annual conference,
• Sponsored successful legislation designating March 7 – 14 of every year as California Arbor Week, and
• Joined Network members to support legislation that extended the prevailing wage exception for volunteers through 2016.

Our Network members:

• Planted over 53,000 trees,
• Cared for over 122,000 trees,
• Held over 1,400 outreach events, and
• Engaged over 31,000 volunteers.

To read more about our work in 2011, download a copy of our annual report here. To help us continue the success of urban and community forestry in California, donate here.

In other Capitol news, Governor Brown issued a proclamation recognizing March 7th as Arbor Day in California. He led the proclamation with the poem “Green and Gold” by Gary Snyder. To read the full proclamation, visit the governor’s website.

ACTrees has compiled a resource list of the many scientifically-proven benefits of trees in a single document. Grouped by category, the benefits and corresponding studies speak to the enormous value of urban and community trees. Click here to view the document.

The state Department of Fish and Game announced Wednesday it will join the federal lawsuit, initiated earlier this year by Sacramento-based Friends of the River.

The suit challenges a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers policy that bans trees on levees, on grounds that trees undermine levee stability and maintenance practices.

“If adhered to, the policy will do incredible damage to California’s remaining riparian and adjacent riverine ecosystem, especially in the Central Valley,” said Fish and Game Director Charlton Bonham.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/10/4045525/california-to-sue-feds-over-levee.html#ixzz1eMWBOL9c

Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 587 (Gordon and Furutani) on September 6th, which now extends the current prevailing wage exemption for volunteers through 2017.  This was the priority legislation for the urban forestry community this year, and is essential to preserving the rights of all Californians to donate their time and spirit to a spectrum of resource conservation activities, critical tree care and tree planting projects. California ReLeaf Network groups and their partners provided strong support for this bill throughout the legislative session, which helped make a difference.

Thanks to everyone for making this effort such a huge success.

“The Energy Conservation Through Trees Act would help reduce energy costs for consumers and improve air quality for all,” said Congresswoman Matsui.  “In my hometown of Sacramento, I have seen firsthand how successful shade tree programs can be.  As we continue to present the twin challenges of high energy costs and the effects of climate change, it is essential that we put in place innovative policies and forward-thinking programs today that prepare ourselves for tomorrow.  Expanding this local initiative to the national level can help ensure that we are working towards a cleaner, healthier future, and will be one piece of the puzzle in our fight to reduce our energy use and protect our planet.”

Patterned after the successful model established by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the Energy Conservation Through Trees Act seeks to save Americans significant amounts of money on their utility bills and reduce outside temperatures in urban areas because shade trees help to shield homes from sun in the summer.  The program conducted by SMUD has been proven to lower energy bills, make local power utilities more cost-effective, and reduce air pollution.  The bill contains a requirement that all federal funds provided as part of a grant program be matched at least one-to-one with non-federal dollars.

Planting shade trees around homes in a strategic manner is a proven way to lower energy demand in residential areas.  According to research conducted by the Department of Energy, three shade trees strategically planted around a house can reduce home air-conditioning bills by about 30 percent in some cities, and a nationwide shade program could reduce air-conditioning use by at least 10 percent.  Shade trees also help to:

• Improve public health and air quality by absorbing particulate matter;
• Store carbon dioxide to help slow global warming;
• Reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas by absorbing stormwater runoff;
• Improve private property values and increase residential aesthetics; and
• Preserve public infrastructure, such as streets and sidewalks.

“It is a simple plan really – to plant trees and create more shade for your home – and in turn lowering the energy use one needs to cool their home,” Congresswoman Matsui added.  “But even small changes can yield tremendous results when it comes to energy efficiency and lowering consumers energy bills.”

“SMUD has supported the development of a sustainable urban forest through our program with positive results,” said SMUD Board President Renee Taylor.  “We are honored that our Shade Tree program was used as the template for the enhancement of urban forests nationwide.”

Larry Greene, Executive Director of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) said, “The Sacramento AQMD is very supportive of this bill since trees have well known benefits for the environment generally and air quality specifically.  We have long worked closely with our advocacy agencies to add more trees to our region.”

“Planting shade trees serves as an effective approach to lowering home energy consumption, and we encourage members of Congress to follow Representative Matsui’s leadership,” said Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects. “Beyond lowering utility bills, trees can help increase property values, help prevent flooding by absorbing stormwater, and reduce the urban heat island effect.”

Peter King, Executive Director of the American Public Works Association, lent the Association’s support to the bill, saying, “APWA applauds Congresswoman Matsui for introducing this innovative legislation that will provide numerous air and water quality benefits that contribute the important quality of life for all members of a community and assist public works departments in improving air quality, reducing heat island affects and prevent stormwater runoff.”

“Alliance for Community Trees resoundingly supports this legislation and Congresswoman Matsui’s vision and leadership,” added Carrie Gallagher, Executive Director of Alliance for Community Trees.  “We know people care about trees and about their pocketbooks.  This legislation recognizes that trees not only beautify homes and our neighborhoods and improve individual property values, but they also save real, everyday dollars for homeowners and businesses by providing heat-beating, energy-saving shade.  Trees are an integral part of creative green solutions to our country’s energy demands.”

Conserving energy through the use of strategically-planted trees is supported by the following organizations: Alliance for Community Trees; American Public Power Association; American Public Works Association; American Society of Landscape Architects; California ReLeaf; California Urban Forests Council; International Society of Arboriculture; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District; Sacramento Tree Foundation, and Utility Arborist Association.

A copy of the Energy Conservation Through Trees Act of 2011 is available HERE.  A one-page summary of the bill is attached HERE.

The 25 individuals who comprise the task force include the nation’s most visionary and respected municipal and state officials, national and local non-profit leaders, researchers, urban planners, and foundation and industry representatives. The members of the task force were selected from a pool of more than 150 nominations. To view a list of the task force members, click here.

In preparation for the workshop, task force members participated in weekly webinars that addressed the history of the U.S. Forest Service’s support of urban and community forestry programs and best practices in urban forests and ecosystems as well as engaged in a discussion of their aspirations and goals for the future of our cities.

Over the course of the April workshop, the task force members began developing a comprehensive set of recommendations that span across seven broad themes:

1. Equity

2. Knowledge and research for decision-making and evaluation

3. Collaborative and integrated planning at a metropolitan regional scale

4. Engagement, education and awareness to action

5. Building capacity

6. Realignment of resources

7. Standard and best practices

These recommendations – to be refined and finalized over the next several months – promote environmental justice, support urban ecosystems research, encourage cross- agency and organization collaboration in green infrastructure planning, and suggest ways to grow a sustainable green jobs workforce, establish consistent funding resources and educate citizens and youth to encourage stewardship and environmental action. The task force will furthermore use current urban forests and ecosystems best practice models to frame a set of Vibrant Cities & Urban Forests standards that will work towards the realization of all of the recommendations.

• Voters strongly value the nation’s forests, especially as sources of clean air and water.
• Voters have an increased appreciation for the economic benefits provided by forests- such as good-paying jobs and essential products – than they were in previous years.
• Voters also recognize a variety of serious threats facing America’s forests, like wildfires and harmful insects and diseases.

Given these factors, seven out of ten voters support maintaining or increasing efforts to protect forests and trees in their state.Among the key specific findings of the poll are the following:

• Voters continue to value the nation’s forests highly, particularly as sources of clean air and water and places for wildlife to live. The survey found most voters are personally familiar with the nation’s forests: two-thirds of voters (67%) say they live within ten miles of a forest or wooded area. Voters also report engaging in various recreational activities that may bring them to forests. These include: viewing wildlife (71% of voters say they do this “frequently” or “occasionally”), hiking on outdoor trails (48%), fishing (43%), overnight camping (38%), hunting (22%), using off-road vehicles (16%), snow-shoeing or cross-country-skiing (15%), and mountain biking (14%).

More information and statistics from this survey can be found at the National Association of State Foresters website.  A copy of the full survey report can be viewed by clicking here.

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, representing the 9th District, introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 10 (ACR 10) to officially designate March 7-14 as California Arbor Week.  ACR 10 urges California residents to observe March 7-14 each year as California Arbor Week.  Trees are a vital resource to to our communities and serve as an important link with nature for California’s residents.