GFC’s Sustainable Community Forestry Program (SCFP) provides technical support to cities, counties, elementary schools, college campuses, home owners and nonprofit organizations.
With funding provided by the US Forest Service, GFC assists communities with:
- Tree board development
- Tree ordinance revision
- Becoming a Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA, or Tree Line USA
- Storm mitigation planning
- Tree care training
- Arbor Day programs
- I – Tree analyses
GFC’s U&CF program also works with the Green Infrastructure Center to assist cities, towns, universities, and regional commissions in providing technical support with mapping, tree inventories, code audits, and management plans. Support may also be available for staffing and other projects.
The care, management, and expansion of healthy urban trees require a suite of tools that many communities need.
Please click the tabs below for more information to consider:
- Where are trees abundant, scarce, healthy, unhealthy, or damaged?
- Is our community gaining or losing our tree cover, and at what rate? Should we be concerned
- How can we justify spending the right amount to ensure a healthy urban forest?
- How much should we plant today, tomorrow, and over the next decade to have a robust tree canopy?
- What are trees contributing to clean air, climate mitigation, urban heat reduction, and stormwater uptake?
- Are trees equitably distributed regardless of race or income? If inequitable, how can this be changed?
- Are trees at risk of failure or areas that are storm damaged or could be in the future?
- Are trees in parks, schools, city plazas, and main streets need replacement or care to ensure future shade?
- How much does our community need to spend to ensure trees last long into the future?
- Are we losing trees due to poor codes (inadequate standards for tree sites, planting or care, outdated tree lists), and are we losing open space due to excessive requirements (for parking, streets, and other codes) that take away open space?
- What new codes, standards, and practices will make our city less paved and greener while still accommodating growth?
- What essential elements should we include to update our codes or adopt new ones?
- Where are trees needed most urgently?
- How can we budget for tree needs and integrate better tree care across city agencies?
- What equipment and personnel do we need now and into the future?
- Are we prepared for storms and tree damage (preparation, response, cleanup)?
- What timeframe and actionable goals are needed to manage the forest and trees effectively and efficiently?
If you need help with any of the above, consider applying for technical support assistance from the GA Forestry Commission.