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More Information
For information on
the tree clean-up for the wildland urban interface
areas click on the:
Wiland Urban Interface.
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Community
Forestry
What is
the Community Forestry Program?
The
community forestry program helps to provide cities with
educational and financial assistance to
preserve
trees where plausible and replant them to maintain Idaho's quality of
life. It also:
-
Helps to
establish, maintain, and/or improve trees and forests within
communities.
-
Improves public
awareness of the importance of trees.
-
Fosters
volunteer participation in community forestry projects and programs.
-
Provides
technical and cost/share assistance to communities for implementing
community tree programs.
-
Assists communities in gaining Tree
City-USA status.
 More
communities throughout the West are taking an interest in the trees and
vegetation that line their Main Streets, shade their city parks and provide
windbreaks for their schools’ playgrounds and athletic fields.
Trees
act as: Air purifiers, energy savers, wind breaks, erosion
preventers, sound barriers, animal habitat, and community beautifiers.
In
addition, the community transportation enhancement grant places trees to
help reduce storm water runoff from roadways, decrease road maintenance
costs by shading them against heat and UV radiation, and conserve fuel
in vehicles normally lost through evaporation and air conditioning when
parked in areas without shade.
What
has Community Forestry Done for the High Country RC&D Area?
In 2007, High
Country RC&D provided grant writing assistance to City of Ucon
and awarded CTE
grants along with City of Idaho
Falls, which will be implemented in 2008. The following
cities within
the High Country RC&D received
Community Forestry grants:
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Community Transportation Enhancement:
Ammon, Idaho Falls, and Salmon
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Tree City USA: Ammon, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Idaho
Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Salmon, St. Anthony,
Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor
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Arbor Day Grants: Driggs, Dubois, Idaho Falls, Iona,
Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, St. Anthony, Stanley, Sugar City,
Ucon, and Victor
2006 Grants Awarded:
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Tree City USA: Ammon, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Idaho
Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Salmon, St. Anthony,
Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor
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Tree City USA Growth Awards: Iona, Menan and Sugar City
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Arbor Day Grants: Ashton, Challis, Driggs, Dubois, Idaho
Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Ririe, Salmon, St.
Anthony, Stanley, Sugar City, Swan Valley, Tetonia, Ucon,
and Victor
2005 Grants Awarded:
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Program Development: Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and St.
Anthony
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Community Transportation Enhancement:
Idaho Falls
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Tree Planting and Care: Salmon
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Arbor Day Grants: Arco, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Iona,
Irwin, Mackay, Menan, Ririe, St. Anthony, Stanley, Sugar
City, and Victor
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Tree City USA Awards: Ammon, Ashton, Challis, Driggs,
Dubois, Idaho Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Salmon,
St. Anthony, Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor
-
Tree City USA Growth Awards: Ammon, Ashton, Driggs,
Idaho Falls, and St. Anthony
Getting Your City Involved
-
Bringing life to your community
*HOW*
-
Create a plan of work
*HOW*
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Update your community forestry work plan
*HOW*
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Contracting tree services
*HOW*
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Keep your community Fire Smart
*HOW*
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Collect surveys and inventory management
*HOW*
Questions or comments?
 Community
Forestry Assistants Are Available to Help You!
Contact: Gary Bates
Phone: 208-681-5964
Email:
gabates@cableone.net
Gerry Bates
has worked as a Community Forestry Assistant in
Southeastern Idaho since 1998. He works in four RC&D
areas:
Three Rivers RC&D,
High Country RC&D,
Mid-Snake RC&D
and
Bear River RC&D.
Before contracting with the Idaho Department of Lands,
Gerry owned and operated his own nursery and landscaping
business with his wife. He
is a past president of the  Idaho
Nursery Association, an
INA Certified
Nursery Professional, a Certified
Plant Diagnostician and a Master Gardener.
Additionally, he is a Certified
Arborist by the
International Society of
Arboriculture.
As a volunteer, he is the chairman of the
City of Idaho Falls
Tree
Committee.
Gerry's responsibilities include
assisting communities with the development of
sustainable community forestry
programs, assistance with grants, tree
committee and ordinance
development, helping cities to obtain
Tree City USA
status,
Arbor Day
planning, etc. Gerry also helps with the development of
tree
inventories, community forestry work plans and offers
advice in design of new
city parks or other public projects.
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