Making a Case for Tree Preservation
Cecilia A. Lammers, Chief, and Michael P. Knapp, Urban Forester,
Fairfax County Urban Forestry Branch, Fairfax, VA

"Management of the natural component is as critical to quality of life and economic vitality...as the management of any infrastructure component."

Cecilia A. Lammers, Chief, Fairfax County Urban Forestry Branch

In rapidly growing Fairfax County, the county's tree preservation task force was concerned about loss of trees and open space, but didn't have complete data about the county's total resources on public and private lands. The task force asked the county to invest in a canopy analysis that would reveal recent trends and create a current picture of the county's tree canopy.

Fairfax County was able to use forest canopy data taken from AMERICAN FORESTS' Chesapeake Bay analysis, resulting in significant cost savings. Bringing the data into the county GIS systems, county staff found that heavily forested areas declined from 47% in 1973 to just 27% by 1997. By 1997, developed areas with less than 20% tree cover became dominant, comprising over 68% of the county's land area. Using CITYgreen, the county found that tree loss between 1973 and 1997 likely caused a 28% increase in stormwater runoff equal to $298 million dollars in containment costs. 2.4 million pounds of air pollutant removal benefits were also lost, worth $6.8 million annually.

The data created a clear picture of how much the county has changed since 1973 and offered solid baseline data that will inform land use decisions. As a result, the tree preservation task force is using the findings to make the case for additional tree preservation measures. County staff are looking at ways to integrate AMERICAN FORESTS' tree canopy cover goals (link) into Fairfax's planned development strategies. The study has allowed planners to weigh previously invisible costs in development decisions and trees are beginning to be considered as part of the planning process. Cecilia Lammers, Chief of Fairfax's Urban Forestry Branch comments, "the countyıs tree canopy functions not only as an aesthetic amenity, but also as a living component of the county's infrastructure. Management of this natural component is as critical to quality of life and economic vitality...as the management of any infrastructure component."

Read the complete proceedings paper online