- April 25, 2024
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A movement to preserve and enhance the city’s urban tree canopy is already gaining traction, and the citizens behind that effort are working to grow on their successes this year.
On Saturday, the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations offered its support for a resolution regarding urban canopy protection. In that resolution, CCNA endorsed three main points: The city should hire additional staff to deal with tree-related issues, the city should improve its tree protection regulations and the city should reestablish an urban forestry program or division.
During the course of this year, representatives for several neighborhoods have mentioned a concern about the loss of trees, a phenomenon partially attributed to a wave of residential construction. Earlier this year, the advocacy group Save Our Sarasota reformed to call for the protection of trees downtown and in residential areas throughout the city.
Rob Patten, president of the Hudson Bayou Neighborhood Association, has also taken an active role in calling for enhanced tree oversight. At Saturday’s CCNA meeting, he introduced the tree protection resolution, stating that the city has been very receptive to suggestions from residents but more work needs to be done.
In its FY16 budget, the city plans to add another code enforcement officer. Residents have asked for the presence of code enforcement staff on the weekend, when tree cutting often takes place and the city is unable to respond until the tree is already gone.
Patten is interested in seeing even more staff dedicated to forestry down the line. In 2007, the city budgeted for three urban forestry professionals in addition to an arborist; today, only the arborist position remains. The resolution states an urban forestry program could focus on education and “establish a long-term dialogue for working together to protect Sarasota’s urban canopy.”
“An arborist is not enough,” Patten said. “An approach that’s comprehensive is an urban forestry program.”
