Classics
The following article has been selected because it is deemed very important to the arboricultural profession
and deserves special recognition. It has appeared in a previous Seminar and because of this it is not eligible for earning certification credits; there is no test at the end of this article.
Make Planting Funds Go Further
By Len Phillips
Arborists have pondered this concern many times in recent years. Listed below are several successful ideas for planting more trees with your limited municipal funds.
Cost Sharing Programs
The first step the municipal arborist must do is talk to the city budget director or treasurer to see if gifts can be accepted for use by the tree department to purchase and plant trees within the city. The gifts should be tax deductible and specifically for planting trees on municipal property. With that set up, you can become very creative in ways to get more tree planting dollars.
Many states and philanthropic organizations have funds available that can be used for planting trees. Sometimes these funds require a match with the funds in your budget or funds already in the gift fund. Local citizens are sometimes willing to make donations for a specific planting project and will match city funds. Also, don’t be afraid to ask local corporate and civic organizations to contribute to your municipal tree planting fund especially if you can tie a tree planting effort into one of the organization’s projects.
Alternative Funding Sources
Sometimes there are other city, state, or federal programs as well as private corporations who have set aside funds that are not directly related to tree planting, but may require landscaping as part of a development project. Be aware of these projects and be prepared to request that funds be available for planting street trees as a requirement for approval of the project.
Local groups such as garden clubs and other civic organizations are often raising funds for local beautification projects. Be involved with these groups to participate in the beautification effort so municipal trees become part of the project. Often simply mentioning the existence of a municipal tree planting fund will encourage private or corporation donations.
When an auto accident or large fire in the city has damaged public shade trees, you should seek insurance claims for reimbursement of the tree’s value. The funds can then be added to the tree planting fund for tree replacements during the next planting season.
By working with the planning board and other municipal departments, you can have a local code approved that will require that every tree removed for a development project be replaced elsewhere in the city. In a similar way, the city should require all local utility companies to replace all trees removed for line maintenance, near where the trees were removed. Alternative to this would be a cash donation from the utility to the municipal tree planting fund.
Many people also like to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one who was involved with the city. Sometimes the donor is willing to have an engraved stone or a bronze plaque placed at the base of the tree. Other times the donation should be noted in a gift acceptance book that is kept on public display. Publicizing this gift or dedicating the tree as part of the annual Arbor Day ceremony is a great way to encourage additional donations.
Once you have completed your tree inventory and prepared a street tree master plan, develop a 10 year environmental improvement plan to plant “x” number of trees every year. By making this a justifiable capital project in the master plan, you should be able to convince the city leaders to approve and fund this long term project.
Resident Options
By considering any of the following options, not only is there a chance of freeing up funds for additional tree purchases, but you can also build positive public relations with your city’s residents.
The following article has been selected because it is deemed very important to the arboricultural profession
and deserves special recognition. It has appeared in a previous Seminar and because of this it is not eligible for earning certification credits; there is no test at the end of this article.
Make Planting Funds Go Further
By Len Phillips
Arborists have pondered this concern many times in recent years. Listed below are several successful ideas for planting more trees with your limited municipal funds.
Cost Sharing Programs
The first step the municipal arborist must do is talk to the city budget director or treasurer to see if gifts can be accepted for use by the tree department to purchase and plant trees within the city. The gifts should be tax deductible and specifically for planting trees on municipal property. With that set up, you can become very creative in ways to get more tree planting dollars.
Many states and philanthropic organizations have funds available that can be used for planting trees. Sometimes these funds require a match with the funds in your budget or funds already in the gift fund. Local citizens are sometimes willing to make donations for a specific planting project and will match city funds. Also, don’t be afraid to ask local corporate and civic organizations to contribute to your municipal tree planting fund especially if you can tie a tree planting effort into one of the organization’s projects.
Alternative Funding Sources
Sometimes there are other city, state, or federal programs as well as private corporations who have set aside funds that are not directly related to tree planting, but may require landscaping as part of a development project. Be aware of these projects and be prepared to request that funds be available for planting street trees as a requirement for approval of the project.
Local groups such as garden clubs and other civic organizations are often raising funds for local beautification projects. Be involved with these groups to participate in the beautification effort so municipal trees become part of the project. Often simply mentioning the existence of a municipal tree planting fund will encourage private or corporation donations.
When an auto accident or large fire in the city has damaged public shade trees, you should seek insurance claims for reimbursement of the tree’s value. The funds can then be added to the tree planting fund for tree replacements during the next planting season.
By working with the planning board and other municipal departments, you can have a local code approved that will require that every tree removed for a development project be replaced elsewhere in the city. In a similar way, the city should require all local utility companies to replace all trees removed for line maintenance, near where the trees were removed. Alternative to this would be a cash donation from the utility to the municipal tree planting fund.
Many people also like to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one who was involved with the city. Sometimes the donor is willing to have an engraved stone or a bronze plaque placed at the base of the tree. Other times the donation should be noted in a gift acceptance book that is kept on public display. Publicizing this gift or dedicating the tree as part of the annual Arbor Day ceremony is a great way to encourage additional donations.
Once you have completed your tree inventory and prepared a street tree master plan, develop a 10 year environmental improvement plan to plant “x” number of trees every year. By making this a justifiable capital project in the master plan, you should be able to convince the city leaders to approve and fund this long term project.
Resident Options
By considering any of the following options, not only is there a chance of freeing up funds for additional tree purchases, but you can also build positive public relations with your city’s residents.