An urban forest consists of all the trees in an urban setting; in a yard, along a street or in a park. Trees are often planted in an urban environment to provide beauty and to soften the harsh angles and surfaces of the city. But trees provide much more than aesthetics, they effect the environment by providing shade, softening the wind, cleaning the air and providing wildlife habitat. Trees are used to create privacy screens, to reduce noise, and increase property values.
The keys to a thriving urban forest are proper tree selection and maintenance. Start the process by considering the site where the tree(s) will be planted, noting any possible constraints of the location and the species of tree. The wrong tree in the wrong place can cause damage to sidewalks, become tangled in power lines, and crack sewer pipes, not to mention the tree removal process which can be costly.
For those residing within the city limits, the City of Spokane’s Urban Forestry program is a great resource for many of your urban forestry issues, including:
Contact Garth Davis for your urban forestry needs and view our list of recommended arborists and loggers.
Community Canopy is a good urban forestry resource. It is a tree care partnership program of the cities of Post Falls, Hayden and Coeur d’Alene in north Idaho, and the City of Spokane and the Spokane Conservation District in Spokane. SCD’s Forestry Program Manager, Garth Davis, is on the steering committee of Community Canopy.
The goal of Community Canopy is to have healthy and sustainable community forests to provide the maximum environmental and visual benefits. They offer workshops, trainings and exhibits, with a focus on planting trees correctly, providing adequate water and protecting trees from damage.
Community Canopy offers the Volunteers in Planting (VIP) program. It is a new program designed to improve the future of young trees planted in public places. The program trains local “tree fans” the ins and outs of pruning recently planted trees for form and structure. All volunteers attend a three-hour training session. For more information on Community Canopy, or to sign up to participate in the VIP program, please contact Garth Davis.
Keep an eye on our Conservation Calendar for dates and information for upcoming Community Canopy workshops and events! |
