Community Forestry
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For information on the tree clean-up for the wildland urban interface areas click on the: Wiland Urban Interface page. 

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.

 

 

 

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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:

  • Community Transportation Enhancement: Ammon, Idaho Falls, and Salmon

  • Tree City USA: Ammon, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Idaho Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Salmon, St. Anthony,           Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor

  • Arbor Day Grants: Driggs, Dubois, Idaho Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, St. Anthony, Stanley, Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor 

2006 Grants Awarded:

  • Tree City USA: Ammon, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Idaho Falls, Iona, Mackay, Menan, Rexburg, Salmon, St. Anthony, Sugar City, Ucon, and Victor

  • Tree City USA Growth Awards: Iona, Menan and Sugar City

  • 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:

  • Program Development: Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and St. Anthony

  • Community Transportation Enhancement: Idaho Falls

  • Tree Planting and Care: Salmon

  • Arbor Day Grants: Arco, Ashton, Driggs, Dubois, Iona, Irwin, Mackay, Menan, Ririe, St. Anthony, Stanley, Sugar City, and Victor

  • 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

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Getting Your City Involved

  1. Bringing life to your community  *HOW*

  2. Create a plan of work  *HOW*

  3. Update your community forestry work plan  *HOW*

  4. Contracting tree services  *HOW*

  5. Keep your community Fire Smart  *HOW*

  6. Collect surveys and inventory management  *HOW*

 

Updates

Applications for the 2008-2009 Grants will be posted later on the Idaho Department of Land Page.  To watch for the post click: http://www.idl.idaho.gov/bureau/community_forestry/grants/index.htm.

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Questions or comments?

Community Forestry Assistants Are Available to Help You!Photo: Gerry Bates

Contact:                                                                                                                                         Gerry 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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