by TRC_Admin | Apr 26, 2019 | Trees
Photo: Thomas Bender, Sarasota Herald Tribune
“The Community Canopy program, which gives away free trees to help expand the urban canopy while reducing energy bills, has returned to the City of Sarasota. In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Florida Forest Service, the city will provide 250 trees to residents at no cost—double last year’s allotment.
Three species of trees will be offered: Dahoon holly, live oak and red maple. All the species are native trees, sourced from within Florida.
The trees will be delivered to the resident’s home in a one gallon container…
‘As the trees grow so do the benefits to the community, with less carbon and cleaner air and water,” says City of Sarasota Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes.
‘Since 2017, 559 trees have been planted in Sarasota through the Community Canopy program. Those trees, once mature, will have filtered approximately 25.7 million gallons of stormwater, absorbed 9,000 pounds of air pollutants and captured 3.3 million pounds of carbon. This is a real impact, creating a healthier environment and more livable Sarasota…'”
— Sarasota Magazine
Read entire article
Visit the Sarasota Herald Tribune to see additional photos by Thomas Bender of Scenic parts of Sarasota.
by TRC_Admin | Feb 27, 2019 | Legal, Trees
“Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property”
“…A local government may not enforce an ordinance or regulation governing the pruning, trimming, or removal of trees on residential property which requires a permit, an application, the provision of notice, a fee, or a fine when either of the following applies:
The residential property is in a county that is subject to a tropical storm watch or warning or a hurricane watch or warning or is experiencing a tropical storm, a hurricane, or a declared state of emergency, and the property owner has determined that a tree on his or her property is damaged,diseased, or pest-infested, or presents a danger to others or property.
The property owner has obtained from an arborist who is certified by a certification program of the International Dociety of Arboriculture proof that the tree is damaged, diseased, or pest-infested, or presents a danger to others or property.
A local government may not require a property owner to replant a tree that has been removed in accordance with this section…”
— From SB 1400 as of 2/27/2019
Keep up with current status of SB1400 here
by TRC_Admin | Sep 1, 2018 | Codes, Trees
Photo: WPTV, West Palm Beach
“People are going out on a limb to make a statement about beautification on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach.
And it’s turned into a unique and fun display of public disobedience.
‘Someone has to “bark” at them,’ said Jim Kovalsky, who has spoken out about empty tree pits on Clematis Street and Dixie Highway. ‘The rest of the planters along this section all have trees.’
But these particular plots across the street from city hall do not have trees and have been this way for at least a year, according to downtown residents.
‘It’s basically become a tripping hazard with no tree in them when we’re trying to have walkability,’ said Kovalsky.
And that’s why a “vegetation vigilante” decided to plant some trees themselves. It’s unknown who put the trees there.
Kovalsky and his friends added to the fun, by decorating it like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
‘Bring some attention in a different way,’ he said. ‘It kind of just branched out from there.’
The trees started a buzz on social media.
‘And very quickly after that, both trees unceremoniously disappeared,’ said Kovalsky.
And then, in place of the trees — a graveyard appeared.
‘It said “RIP Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I have no idea who put that there,’ chuckled Kovalsky.
Here’s some good news — Mayor Jeri Muoio has identified a million dollars to increase tree benefits throughout the city.
According to the city, the focus of this dedication is to support of West Palm Beach Net Zero Green House Gas Emissions by 2050 Initiative and to improve the walkability and bikeability of the downtown space and connectors by increasing shade.
To do this, West Palm beach is concentrating on planting 20 ft. shade trees throughout the community, using native Florida trees and selecting a wide variety of acceptable shade tree species. Howard Park will be receiving 10 new trees in the coming weeks. Working with Florida Power and Light, the City of West Palm Beach is planting the trees to complement the solar tree structures which were recently installed. That project will be completed by late August or early September…”
— Alanna Quillen, WPTV, West Palm Beach
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Sep 1, 2018 | Trees
Photo: WGCU Pixabay
“We’re looking at a preemptive approach to reducing the possibility of harmful algae blooms by reducing the amount of nutrients from stormwater runoff that wind up in the water in the first place — by planting trees. A local nonprofit called OneTree, whose mission is to plant one new tree, per person, per year, is turning its sights on our water crisis through what’s called riparian restoration.
That means planting native trees in natural lower lying terrain, where water flows during rainfall, in order to slow runoff and capture freshwater pollutants. They planted 500 trees a few weeks ago, and have plans to plant more. We’re joined by Wil Revehl, Advancement Director for One Tree; and Kraig Hankins, Environmental Biologist for the City of Cape Coral.”
— Mike Kiniry and Julie Glenn, WGCU
Listen to program here
by TRC_Admin | Sep 1, 2018 | Trees
Photo: Abc-7.com
“More than fifty people spent the morning planting hundreds of trees in Cape Coral to help with the water crisis in Southwest Florida.
The event was originally intended to help with deforestation, but more roots in the ground could help prevent future water problems.
Trees work as filtration systems, soaking up fertilizers, metals, pesticides and other dangerous chemicals we don’t want in our waterways.
‘This water crisis is so heartbreaking we want to make sure Floridian’s are aware of the filtration services that trees provide,’explained Wil Revehl, the Advancement Director of the Future Forestry Foundation.
Five hundred trees were planted in Cape Coral along Veterans Memorial Parkway on Saturday.
FGCU professors said that the algae crisis impacting the water is caused by an excessive amount of nutrients polluting our water. They said while planting trees won’t solve the issue, it’ll definitely help.
‘If we all just get more trees into the ground, whether they’re on the watershed or not, they will make a difference,” said Revehl.
Jason Pim is a volunteer ranger with the Calusa Waterkeeper. He said trees naturally soak up nitrogen and phosphorous pollution.
‘The sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are from our watershed and Lake Okeechobee upriver, but we still need to do a lot here locally to keep fertilizers, pesticides, and sprays out of our water,’ said Pim
Members of the future forestry foundation said more than 10 million trees are chopped down every year in Lee County for new development projects and construction.
‘The sheer volume of deforestation in Lee County from development is so astronomical,’said Revehl.
On Earth Day, the Future Forestry Foundation initiated a new project to help with deforestation. It’s called ‘1 million trees for Lee County.’ So far, they’ve planted more than 10,000 trees. Their goal is to repair, restore, and replenish.
Revehl explained, ‘Putting trees where the water is flowing so we can have these trees do a lot more work to protect our waterways.”
‘I’m very solely focused on this water issue if we can’ get that corrected we stand to lose our way of life,’says Pim.
You don’t have to be part of an organization to help out the environment; you can plant a tree anywhere.”
— Ashley Dyer, ABC-7.com
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Jul 1, 2018 | Trees
Photo: Resident Community News
“If you’ve always wanted or needed to plant a tree in the right-of-way in front of your property, now you can, thanks to the City of Jacksonville’s tree settlement with a variety of civic groups in July 2017.
The suit filed in 2015 by the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida challenged the city’s use of the Tree Mitigation Trust Fund established in 2000 by charter amendment. Developers pay into the fund when they cut down trees and the money is supposed to be used to mitigate the loss by paying for new trees to be planted elsewhere in Duval County.
Although the $20 million settlement provides funds for trees to be replaced or added to public property, including that strip of grass between the street and the sidewalk in front of your home, each request for a tree requires that a bill be filed for approval by the Jacksonville City Council…”
— Kate A. Hallock,Resident Community News
Read details on how to apply here
