Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/08/1994

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CITY OF RAMSEY URBAN FORESTRY COMPREHENSWE PLAN Motivational Statement: Why is Community Forestry important? Trees and fores~ add value to thc quality of life in Ramsey. More than just economic value, trees add environmcn.t~al, aesthetic, social, historic, and psychological value..lust as cities have a street and sewer infrasmmture or a community infrasm~cture, cities also have a "green infrastructure". The mission of' community forestry is to manage trees and vegetative components of the ecosystem. a. Environmental Trees contribute~to the physical quality of our environment by modifying local climates, abating noise, visual andiair pollution, and by mitigating impacts of development on soil and water. I)Climate Trees help provide micro-climate control. Streets, parking lots and buildings have adversely affected the climate of urban areas by absorbing solar radiation.- Water that once percolated into the soil and later ev~ipotranspired from soil and plants now drains away or dries on the hard surfaces. Because of thesechanges, city temperatures have increased and created "urban heat islands." Trees help modm'ate the "heat island" effect by providing shade and pumping hundreds of gallons of water through their foliage. This water evaporates, keeping the tree and its immediate surroundings cool. This cooling effect is so great that during hot weather, trees dramatically reduce cooling ~osts by buffering high air temperatures and blocking unwanted solar energy.At night, radiation moves heat in the opposite direction: from the relatively warm earth to the relatively cool sky. Again, tree cover steps in by blocking radiant heat !.0ss from homes and people. 2) Air and Noise Pollution Trees improve ~ban environment air quality. A fair amount of toxic gaseous and solid particulates from the air are ;filtered or removed from the air by trees. The recent increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere known as "the greenhouse effect" is also combatted by trees through photosynthesis. ;Plants "inhale" carbon dioxide (CO2) and "exhale" oxygen (02). In addition, noise pollution ~om highways, business and residential activities can be significantly reduced by using tree buffe~rs. Used alone or in conjunction with earth berms, large foliage can create noticeable reductions in decibel levels. 3)Soil and Water Protection Soil and water quality are protected by trees. In urban areas covered with buildings, pavement, and other imp6rvious surfaces, rainwater and snowmelt are concentrated and accelerated, increasing soil erosion, silt accumulation, and poll,utio.n in water bodies. Trees and other vegetation prot~t the soil from erosion by allowing percola.fi, on of water into soil. Ground water pollution is greatly reduced when rainfall is allowed to percolated into the soil. Near lakes and streams, roots an~ fallen leaves help hold the soil together and 'Shield it against the cutting forces of surface water. Leaf mulch accumulates under trees and creates.an environment for earthworms and other organisms that ensure soil porosity.