President’s Message

The President’s Message

Does your community place a high value on the proper maintenance of trees and include them as an important part of the green infrastructure in planning for future growth?  By the year 2030, the DFW region expects to have more residents than the states of Colorado and Oregon combined.  The livability and sustainability of our cities is dependent on the framework established for their development and redevelopment.  Since trees and forests directly benefit the health, well being, quality of life, and economic future of our citizens, they deserve top priority status in planning of our area communities.

Cities that fail to manage their urban forests will see a decline in the forest’s health over time.  The decline will stem from diseases such as Oak Wilt or Bacterial Leaf Scorch, non-native insects like the Soapberry Borer; and invasive non-native plants such as Kudzu or Dodder.  Additionally, there is the aspect of development and re-development.  A lack of planning will result in the loss of many millions of dollars in tree value and the benefits they provide.

A recent survey of the Houston area forest finds that their 665 million trees are valued at more than 205 billion dollars, and the forest sequesters 721 million dollars in carbon storage each year.  The Houston urban forest also provides environmental benefits of $109.00 per person, per year.  This value includes storm-water runoff abatement costs, residential energy savings of 131 million dollars and the removal of over 60,000 tons of air pollution annually.  The Houston research emphasizes the importance of trees and underscores the need to include them in establishing a solid plan for the future of our communities.

Dallas contains a large percentage of our area trees.  As a result, the proper care and maintenance of Dallas’s trees continues to be a high priority for our company.  The City of Dallas has never had a citywide program to plant trees or to manage the urban forest as an important part of its green infrastructure.  However, gratefully, the city and its citizens are working hard to make a change.  As Dallas initiates a sound urban forest management plan, other area cities will follow Dallas’s lead.

With strong support and leadership from Dallas Mayor, Laura Miller and the Dallas City Council, the City of Dallas hired its first Urban Forester.  On December 14, 2005, the Dallas City Council passed a resolution creating the Dallas Urban Forest Advisory Committee.    The committee serves as advisors, educators and innovators regarding tree and urban forest related affairs. These two steps effectively established an urban forestry program. Support for trees and the urban forest will have a direct, positive influence on our future generations.  Our company will continue to be strong stewards of the urban forest as a result. To leave a legacy of cooler, greener and healthier communities is indeed a worthy gift.  Read more about “Dallas Urban Forestry and Vision North Texas in this issue of Tree Topics.  You can also visit the committee’s website (under construction) at www.dallastrees.org.

Steve Houser

President

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