The purpose of this guide is primarily to provide both professional and nonprofessionals with easily understood technical information on proper tree management. While information is important, having the opportunity to apply this knowledge is even more important. Successful urban forestry programs around the nation have something in common. They exercise the political process to attain their goals. Urban forestry professionals feel much more comfortable dealing with technical subjects based on clear and widely accepted principles. However, the political process often fails to respond to clear principles, making it difficult to understand and hard to control. It's no surprise that technically competent people sometimes choose to avoid politics. But without some political involvement, it is unlikely that tree programs will receive the support they need. The following section highlights the basic elements of decision making that affect trees in urban areas. Decision-Making Process Local decision making is seldom a transparent process, so it is important to be prepared. Begin by identifying a goal: to save a group of trees threatened by new construction; to provide additional funding for a tree planting program; or, to implement a hazardous tree removal program. Reconnaissance is next. Identify key players and their roles. The roles may be technical, financial, or administrative. Determine the person or people who will make the final decision. Match peoples' roles with the goal, so that energy and resources can be focused on people who have influence in the appropriate area. Devise a strategy. Decide how best to persuade the decision makers. A successful strategy usually includes gathering and distributing information. Identify technical experts who are credible to all concerned parties. They provide the objective technical information. Early in the process, give this information to decision makers. This allows everyone a chance to review the information and ask questions. When the time comes, the decision will have been made after careful consideration, and not on the spur of the moment. Communication is one of the keys to success. In local governments, the staff who implement policies are frequently consulted by decision-makers. The staff is also a good source of advice for citizens. They can point out major obstacles or opponents. Overcoming the obstacles may mean doing research, answering questions, or meeting with people. But, once this is done there is a much greater chance of receiving approval. Luckily, trees fall into the "motherhood and apple pie category," and people have difficulty not supporting them. Some goals could be achieved administratively, saving the effort to develop and implement a legislative solution. Local government staff, especially planners, can be allies. They are generally supportive of actions that improve the liveability of the community, particularly trees and other types of landscaping. For example, planners often include street tree requirements in zoning codes. Let them know that a vocal, citizens group favors this approach and will support them, with elected officials, if necessary. On the other hand, staff may see problems implementing the proposal and try to discourage the effort. Thank them for their help and advice, but inform them that the goal will be pursued anyway. The appeal could then be taken to a higher authority. And, if the system does not work, work outside the system. Some wonderful accomplishments have been achieved by citizens who diligently refused to take "no" for an answer. Local officials are often swayed by organized movements, even though they may actually be quite small. Encourage distinguished citizens, such as doctors, lawyers, and businessmen to endorse the cause, so the organization represents the entire community. Identify well-known people with important titles, such as Ph.D., M.D. and J.D., as supporters of the proposal. Stationery listing the Board of Governors in the margin communicates the organization's seriousness and commitment. Looking as professional as possible always helps to establish credibility. When influential people support the tree proposal, they should be thanked publicly. The organization could issue a news release identifying the good works of the individual or present an award. Whatever the method, make sure the community knows about those people that helped the effort. Most policy decisions are made at public meetings, and a good showing of support is critical to achieving a favorable outcome. Encourage friends, relatives, neighbors, and the general public to attend-the more the better. Select several articulate and well-dressed people to endorse the proposal on behalf of the group. And, remember the most credible and influential people: "voters who care about what is going to happen to their trees." Occasionally, more than one appearance may be necessary. Even though it may seem that the odds are long, there are many examples of successful campaigns that operated on a shoestring. Well directed efforts taking a few days and less than $100 have launched tree programs costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. A small effort could result in substantial long term benefits to the community. Once the policy decision has been made, the easy part is over. Implementing the policy will require continued involvement from the group that promoted it. They must remain visible to support and monitor implementation. Support of the staff who will be implementing the policy will be helpful. Technical vs. Value Decisions Tree management frequently offers several alternatives for action, and weighing them can be difficult. The dilemma often arises from trying to balance two types of considerations. Some factors can be measured, such as size, shape, condition, health, and cost. Others are intangible values, such as beauty, history, attitude, and aesthetics. Urban forestry professionals often find themselves balancing tangible factors against intangible ones. For example, preserving existing trees during development must often be compared to the value of the trees and their chances of surviving construction. Communities often require a developer to spend hundreds of dollars preserving a tree that becomes damaged. It is worth less than the cost to preserve it, and then it dies a year or two after the project is completed. There is no formula for arriving at the best solution. Only professional judgement, honed by experience and tempered with public input, can make these decisions. Liability Trees pose some unique liability problems. While most trees cause few problems, there are occasions where problems can be significant and should be avoided if possible. Liability problems can best be avoided by clearly assigning responsibility for a tree's care. Visual clearance for traffic signals must be maintained. Dead wood or hazardous trees on public property must be removed. And, property damage resulting from trees, such as broken sidewalks, must be repaired. Scheduled tree maintenance programs limit liability to some extent by minimizing the number of dangerous situations that develop. Such a program can also maximize the benefits from trees by educating people, regulating tree care activities, and providing some central organization to undertake this task. A number of communities have attempted to pass liability for trees to adjacent property owners, while retaining regulatory authority over anything done to the trees. While the stated purpose of this action is to eliminate the community's liability for trees, it cannot be accomplished in this manner. At most, the property owner shares liability with the local government. Coordination As a community resource, trees may come under the jurisdictions of various groups. Although often overlooked, one task for urban forestry programs is coordinating the activities of others. Coordination is needed in three situations: public/public, public/ private and private/private. Public/Public - Any public tree care agency is regularly faced with adverse effects from other public agencies who have responsibilities for things such as sewer systems, street rights-of-way and overhead utility lines. This is also true of different departments within the same public agency. Lack of attention to the work of others can be so damaging that it may outweigh the good work done by the urban forestry program. It is essential that one department coordinate all tree-related activities on public property, if the tree resources are to be protected. Since the tree care programs in most areas suffer from a lack of funds, it helps to establish good informal working relationships with other groups. In one city, the department of public works, which removed a number of trees in order to widen a city street, decided to replant new trees as part of the project. They did this based solely on the encouragement of the forestry department. The neighborhood was delighted with the result. Public/Public - This is probably the most typical situation in many municipalities. Coordination often comes in the form of a permit system. Any tree work, such as pruning, planting, and applying pesticides, requires a permit. Such a system coordinates the activities of homeowners, businesses, tree care contractors, utility companies, and developers. Some cities even extend this regulation to private property by requiring a permit to remove any tree over a certain size, usually four to six inches diameter. Since it affects the largest percentage of the urban forest, public/private coordination will have the greatest benefits. Public/Public - This type of effort addresses what private property owners do to their trees. It is difficult to play as direct a role as in the previous two examples, but it is still worth considering. Private/private coordination fills the remaining pieces of the urban forest, and allows a comprehensive approach to management. Public education campaigns can stress the value of trees to the community, their contribution to property values, environmental benefits, and economic contributions. Other topics could be more technical: proper tree care procedures, choosing a reputable tree care company, and minimizing the liability.

This role is more "facilitation" than the direct regulation or coordination mentioned earlier. This role could be played by either a public agency or a private non-profit group, such as Tree People in Los Angeles, California. A number of communities in British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and California cultivate community spirit to encourage private individuals to preserve historic and otherwise significant trees. Remember that maintaining and preserving the urban forest for future generations is a big job-more than one person can do alone. Success will require cooperation and coordination among many people. The more people involved the more successful the effort will be.