The
purpose of this research study was to assess the current state of municipal
forestry programs in Texas. This survey was designed to be repeated in the
future so that Texas can track changes in municipal forestry programs over
time, emulating California and Oregon. The four major factors this research
study measures and compares against each other are 1) municipal forestry
program success, 2) municipal spending on urban forestry activities, 3) quantity
of assistance received from the State Urban Forestry Program, and 4) the population
of each city.
Expenditures
on urban forestry activities are low compared to the findings of related
literature and represent a continued downward slide. On average, Texas cities
of any size are spending less on urban forestry per capita today than the
average U.S. city was spending at any period previously recorded; 1974, 1980,
1986 or 1994. If the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA expenditure
requirement of $2 per capita (set in 1974) is adjusted for inflation, it rises
to $9.38 in 2012 dollars; only about 13% of respondents meet or exceed this
adjusted value. Additionally, spending on urban forestry as a percentage of a
municipality’s total budget is quite low.
There
appears to be a strong connection between a city receiving assistance from the Texas
A&M Forest Service and those cities currently possessing the critical elements
of an urban and community forestry program. Strong tree ordinances are
relatively common in Texas municipalities, including municipal codes that
protect trees on private property during construction activity or regulate the
removal of trees on private property.
Tree
boards and non-profit groups are both fairly common as well. Urban forestry
management plans are very uncommon and there appears to be a strong connection
between high expenditure rates and management plans. The same connection to
high expenditure rate can’t be made with tree inventories of street trees or
park trees which are also very uncommon, whether they are comprehensive or
sample inventories. Many municipalities appear to be on proactive tree
maintenance cycles despite the lack of any inventory at all.
This
research is interesting because it utilizes a unique combination of
measurements to gauge municipal forestry activity. This ideal combination of
measurements is worth repeating in other states. Some of the results of the
research study are surprising, and are therefore interesting and useful to
other researchers.