MUNICIPAL
TREE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
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Tree
Program Development. In order to improve the effectiveness of
your community's tree program, FMS can create or improve existing
ordinances to reflect local goals, needs, and political situations.
Typical ordinances prepared by FMS include those that establish a
Tree Commission, orchestrate tree management, address landscape requirements
for parking lots, and address the retention of trees during development.
In addition, our company is willing to work with land-use planning
efforts, to see that tree care concerns are incorporated. [return
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Urban
Forest Management Plans. FMS can help prepare a blueprint for
the success of your Community Tree Program. A management plan is an
important tool that can help your community become more efficient
in allocating its urban forest resources. Topics usually addressed
include: assessment of current urban forest resources and program
administration, interviews with local leaders and tree program managers
to determine objectives for the Community Tree Program, and recommendation
of program administration and specific urban forestry treatments.
This is a must for communities just beginning a community tree program,
or for those programs that need revitalization! [return
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Training.
FMS can customize tree-care training sessions to meet your needs.
Audiences generally include city departments, public utilities, tree
care contractors, tree boards, and sometimes the general public. Examples
of training held in the past include: care for newly planted trees,
proper pruning techniques, modern tree care, care for mature trees,
and pruning for utility line clearance. [return
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| Grants.
FMS can prepare applications and handle the administration of any
urban forestry related grant. FMS has worked extensively with most
state and federal urban forestry grants and we are very familiar with
each program's reporting process and deadlines. This can be a great
time saver for city employees for whom grant management can interfere
with mandatory regular duties. We offer this service free of charge
if the grant involves the use of our company. [return
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| Public
relations. Our company can serve as your representative in providing
professional tree care information to the public. Services can be
customized to meet your needs but they usually include: news releases
on tree care or community tree program, explaining why high-visibility
trees require removal or pruning in a certain way, encouraging the
planting of the proper tree on each site, etc. These services can
be used to contact many people at one time (mass media) or on a one-to-one
basis. This type of service can be especially valuable to public utilities.
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| Municipal
employment contracts. This service is designed primarily for communities
that have a need to employ a forester, yet don't quite have the funds
for a full time forester. Under a modest retainer fee, Forest Management
Specialists can offer its services at a greatly reduced rate. |
OPERATIONS
Tree
Inventories. FMS provides a variety of tree inventories for
city owned street and/or park trees. While these inventories are
designed primarily for cities, they are also very useful for anyone
who owns or manages many trees. In addition to those listed below,
our company can customize an inventory to meet your needs.
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1)
Inventory of Tree Maintenance Needs
- The City's streets, parks, and other properties are sampled,
to identify and prioritize tree maintenance activities, and the
city is divided into appropriate tree management units. This type
of survey is designed to provide a quick overview of the tree
maintenance needs within each unit and is used most often by city
public works or street departments.
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2)
Administrative Inventory - In this type of sample, the species,
condition., size, location zone, and monetary value of City owned
trees are estimated. Records are not kept on an individual tree
basis; rather the information is used to provide an overview of
the city's tree resources as a whole. Administrative inventories
are so named due to the fact that the information is used primarily
by mayors, city councils and tree commissions to determine the
status of the city's urban forest and to set a direction for its
community tree program.
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3)
Individual Tree Records - This is the most intensive inventory.
Each city owned tree is extensively examined to determine the
same information as in the Administrative inventory. However,
unlike the Administrative inventory, each tree receives a number
and its own record that can be used for future reference. These
types of inventory are usually limited to areas where the trees
are of high value, over-mature, or historically have high maintenance
needs. Historical associations and city public works/street departments
benefit most from this type of information. [return
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Tree
Inspections. FMS
can examine any tree for which you have a concern. Using our professional
training, knowledge of current management techniques, and experience,
we can thoroughly inspect your trees for pest diagnosis and control
recommendations, the presence of hazardous conditions, or other needed
maintenance. In addition, we are available to oversee tree maintenance
operations such as pruning, fertilizing, underground utility work,
cabling and bracing, and lightning protection. [return
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SPECIALIZED
SERVICES
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Tree
appraisal. Using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers'
formula, FMS can appraise your tree or group of trees. This can be
especially useful for insurance claims, litigation, or property appraisals.
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Tree
protection during construction. Using the latest in tree protection
techniques, FMS can assist in the planning and implementation of tree
protection during construction. This much-needed service can more
than pay for itself, by increasing the opportunities for your best
trees to survive and maintain their health and vigor. On similar lots
where trees were not adequately protected during construction, a drop
in value of 15% or more can result if trees do not survive. [return
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| Other
services. Thanks to the experience and training of our staff,
FMS is willing to work on practically any forestry or tree related
project. For services not listed above, just give us a call! [return
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