EXTENSION REPORT

Regreening the Urban Forest

     A continuous string of hurricanes this year devastated the forest of south Alabama.  Many communities that implemented mitigation and response plans prior to this year’s hurricane season greatly reduced the severity of damage to their urban trees.  Technical training provided to municipal workers who are responsible for proper planting and maintenance of trees in the community is critical.  Research suggests that professional training for employees responding to disasters is  repeatedly the most practical utility in a community plan of action.  Furthermore, good mitigation and response plans for disaster recovery should embrace joint efforts by municipal agencies, consulting foresters, private tree care firms, utility companies and community volunteers. In support of community response planning and urban forest initiatives, the USDA Forest Service has identified three chronological phases of emergency action after hurricane events.  The three phases are preparation, response and recovery. 

     Preparation is acknowledged by a community planning strategy that  will identify the role of various individuals and municipal departments during disasters.  Development of additional assistance contact information and early warning systems are also recognized as part of the early preparation phase. 

     The response phase, in my opinion, is the most hectic of all emergency action phases.  The response activities are instantaneous and unpredictable.  These activities require excellent record-keeping skills, a speedy reply to debris elimination options and on the spot removal of hazardous trees.  If further assistance is needed, local authorities are required to follow a strict chain of command.  First, they must contact State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials to declare their impacted community as a disaster.  Next, the state officials decide whether or not to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deem the community a federal disaster.  A tree inventory provided by the community as a result of the preparation plan will aid in the determination of community’s impact by local, state and federal officials and offer valuable tree-related costs for urgent financial assistance.

     The final recovery phase attempts to reinstate the quality of life, aesthetical integrity and vigorous environmental significance of the community prior to the disaster.  Recovery activities include: tree plantings, educational outreach and awareness events, training and research seminars, celebrations and recognition of response teams. During the recovery phase, tree plantings are representative of public expenditures that appreciate in value where all other public expenditures will depreciate over time.  

Community leaders, educators and environmental groups in Alabama coastal counties are encouraging well designed tree plantings that will remediate recent storm damage. Tree plantings and Arbor Day ceremonies are a welcomed sign of hope after a storm event.  Restoration of the community forest will take many years to achieve depending on the impact from high winds and storm surge.  Remember to alternate replacement tree plantings so that diversely-aged stands will be the product in years to come.  Another important consideration in the tree planting is to recognize the ability of a tree to survive in the conditions that exist after the storm.  For example, do not immediately replace a dogwood or other understory tree that was destroyed by a fallen canopy tree if the site is now in full sun. The understory tree survived previously because of the protective canopy of a larger tree.  Understory trees are not likely to survive full sun nor will they tolerate the changes in soil pH linked with deficiency in leaf litter normally produced by the now missing larger trees.

     A wealth of information is available to assist your community with urban forest disaster mitigation, proper tree selection, tree planting and hiring an arborist.  Information can be obtained from your County Extension Office, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF), American Forests (AF), USDA Forest Service, state natural resource agencies, Alabama Forest Commission, local nursery associations and environmental resource groups. 

     Many citizens have phoned the County Extension Office wanting to know the best time to replant trees on their property.  The answer is today, tomorrow, next week, or anytime before spring or summer when temperatures rise above 75 degrees. Although cool season is the best planting time for bare-rooted or ball and burlap stock, trees grown in containers can be planted year round.

     Trees planted during cool seasons have revealed increased survivability.  Planting trees during winter dormancy allow the root system to increase and store nutrients absent the harsh physiological competition from leaf and stem production.  Biological processes that compete with root metabolism are more robust during the spring and summer.  Warm season processes include: leaf transpiration, fruit production, amplified photosynthesis and flowering.  Physiological processes that enhance cell production and respiration require more energy and nutrient uptake from the roots. The energy that is stored by the roots during winter dormancy is utilized for tree growth in the warmer seasons causing more stress to the tree.

     Additionally, other environmental factors may contribute to tree mortality during hot, sweltering summers.  These factors include: limited capillary flow of water through sandy soil and poor water percolation in heavy or compacted clay soil. Proper soil moisture content and root uptake is extremely important to the survivability of a tree in all seasons especially during the summer months.

     As we continue our efforts to maintain the health, beauty and safety of our forest, communities should consider applying for national, state and local awards.  Recognition of citizen’s efforts to manage their community forest is essential to continued interest and support.  If your community would like assistance with a Tree City USA or the Tree City Growth Award, please contact me at the Mobile County Extension Office at 251-574-8445.  We will be happy to guide you through the application process.

Alabama Forestry Commission

513 Madison Avenue

Montgomery, Alabama  436130

(205) 240-9304

National Office

State and Local Programs and Support Directorate

Office of Disaster Assistance Programs

Washington D.C. 20472

(202) 646-3615

FEMA – Region IV

1371 Peachtree Street, Northeast, #700

Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 853-4200

Director, Alabama Emergency Management Agency

520 South Court Street

Montgomery, Alabama  36130

(205) 834-1375

Email address: wellsta@aces.edu
Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.