Submitted By
Rob Sproule, Public Works Director
Reviewed By
Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager / Interim Director of Development Customer Services
Agenda Item Title
Title
Concur with the Community Design Commission and Adopt A Resolution Approving and Adopting the Village of Oak Park's Urban Forest Management Plan
End
Overview
Overview
This is a Resolution adopting the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) as an action plan providing detailed information, recommendations, and resources needed to effectively and proactively manage public trees in the Village of Oak Park...End
Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
The Climate Ready Oak Park Implementation Plan lists the establishment and implementation of an urban forest plan as a high priority (EP03). The UFMP was developed to be a living document that guides the Forestry Division's actions for the next 20 years. Its goals are to increase canopy cover, maximize the benefits trees provide while minimizing cost, mitigate against climate change, ensure tree equity throughout the community, and create a program to manage the urban forest resource for the greatest public good in a manner that is both financially and programmatically sustainable, while maintaining flexibility for future adaptive management.
The Village presently has over 18,500 trees growing in the parkway or on Village-owned property. Over the past 10 years the Village's Forestry Division dealt with the loss of many parkway ash trees to emerald ash borer and the continued loss of American elm trees to Dutch elm disease. Tree planting increased over that time and presently over 98% of locations identified as being suitable for a tree have a tree currently growing there.
The loss of many parkway ash and elm trees reduced the Village's overall tree canopy cover considerably. Tree canopy cover is closely correlated with the environmental and social benefits trees provide. The Village undertook a large replanting ...
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