Summary
Northwest Georgia counties face shrinking green space with development. There is a need for homeowner education on managing green space as well as a need for qualified professionals to assist in the management of the urban forest. The agents in Cherokee, Douglas, Floyd and Paulding Counties have worked collaboratively with other agencies to provide homeowner, youth and professional education on green space management and conservation.
Situation
Increasing residential growth in Bartow, Cherokee, Douglas, Floyd and Paulding Counties has resulted in a shift from rural farm and forest land to suburban landscapes. Well-managed trees in a suburban landscape provide not only an aesthetic value, but also can provide benefits relative to air and water quality, home energy savings, and increased value of property. However, poorly managed landscape trees can be expensive to remove, can cause property damage or even pose a threat to human safety. The transitioning landscape of Northwest Georgia has resulted in a need for more awareness of proper tree care, urban tree management practices and more people trained to manage the urban tree canopy. Nearly twenty percent of Paulding County Extension Office calls relate to homeowner tree questions. Professionals with current arboriculture certifications require continuing education. Currently, few municipalities participate in the Tree City USA program, nor are there any implemented tree ordinances in Paulding County. Homeowners lack basic knowledge of tree selection, maintenance and care. Youth also lack an awareness of the importance of tree preservation and conservation.
Response
Arborist Certification Preparation Courses have been offered yearly since 2007 in coordination with Rolling Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council. Agents have helped to plan, organize and conduct three trainings in Floyd, Paulding, and Bartow Counties. Additionally agents conduct continuing education for arborists to maintain their certification through the International Society of Arboriculture.
Agents worked collaboratively with Rolling Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Georgia Forestry Commission to provide several seminars targeting homeowners and local municipalities. From October of 2008 through September of 2009, twelve programs were provided for Bartow, Cherokee, Douglas, Floyd, and Paulding Counties, on topics spanning tree planting, proper pruning practices, trees and construction, and tree hazard assessment, along with one specialty workshop on “Tree Management for Local Governments.” Participants received instruction from certified arborists, Extension personnel and highly trained volunteers, regarding managing trees in the landscape. One agent also produced television programs on tree care topics for broadcast on the local cable affiliate. Agents also assisted in the production of a publication for homeowners seeking the services of a professional arborist, in cooperation with Rolling Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
A Master Gardener Urban Tree Specialty Training was conducted in 2008, training six Master Gardeners from three counties in the region in advanced concepts in urban tree management in order that they might undertake teaching and special projects in their counties relating to conserving and maintaining green space. Volunteers from that training are currently using knowledge gained from the course in collaboration with the City of Dallas to create a plan for a “pocket park” using appropriate trees and plants. Additionally, Master Gardeners can be found planning and executing Arbor Day Events, assisting in the re-development of a local arboretum, working on a city tree canopy study, coaching a 4-H Forestry Judging Team, writing articles on green space issues for a local newspaper and community magazine, and assisting in local Extension offices with client problem resolution.
A youth component of urban forestry and green space awareness continued in Paulding County through an eleven member 4-H Forestry Judging Team. This component was initiated in Cherokee County in 2009, with 8 Junior 4-H'ers and 4 Senior 4-H'ers participating on the inaugural team. As northwest Georgia counties tend to be suburban landscapes, forestry judging teams were given an urban forestry experience in learning the required material for the Team Events. Teams met at least twelve times per year to learn about tree identification, insects and diseases and tree measurement.
Impact
Participants in Arborist Certification preparation trainings have an average pass rate of 85% as first time International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Exam takers, as compared with an overall average first time exam taker pass rate of 60%, as reported by ISA. Regional access to trained, certified arboriculture professionals has increased from three certified arborists in the region in 2006 to twenty-eight certified arborists in 2009. Additionally twenty-two hours of ISA continuing education units were made available to certified professionals between October, 2008 and September, 2009.
A publication has been produced for homeowners seeking the services of a professional arborist, in cooperation with Rolling Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and UGA Cooperative Extension. The publication outlines the reasons to hire a certified arborist, guidelines for finding a professional and a listing of ISA certified arborists in our region. The publication is available in hardcopy and the directory is updated and maintained online at http://www.rollinghillsrcd.org/arborist%20list.pdf. The regional arborist directory publication has been distributed to more than two-hundred Extension clients in need of professional assistance with landscape trees.
One hundred and sixty five homeowners received reliable information regarding tree care in the home landscape from Extension programming. Eighty percent of homeowners who participated indicated that based on what they learned they would change some practice in managing their landscape trees including: increased mulched areas around tree roots, improved watering practices, improved pruning practices, and reduced use of chemicals in the home landscape.
Two tree maintenance television programs, targeted at homeowners, were produced by the Floyd County Extension Agent in cooperation with Keep Floyd Beautiful was shown weekly for several weeks on the Floyd County Cable channel, reaching 25,000 subscribers. Additionally, one of these television programs won a prestigious media award from the Georgia Urban Forestry Commission.
Several green spaces have been initiated or renewed through the work of trained Master Gardener volunteers, including a City of Dallas pocket park, Reinhardt College arboretum, and Rome City trees. Additionally, these volunteers have produced five articles for local newsletters, newspapers and community magazines relating to tree care and maintenance. These Master Gardeners have also been an integral part of service to clients seeking tree care advice in Northwest Georgia counties, assisting more than forty homeowners with problem resolution in the landscape relating to trees.
Seventeen new 4-H'ers became engaged in 4-H Forestry Judging and an additional six 4-H'ers returned to Forestry Judging teams to continue to learn about tree identification, insects and diseases of trees and tree measurement in an urban setting. These youth are gaining an appreciation for tree care in the context of urban and suburban settings.
State Issue
Conservation & Management of Natural Resources
Details
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Year:
2009
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Geographic Scope:
Multi-County
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County:
Paulding
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Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
