Urban and Community Forestry Program
Cooperative Forestry State of Private Forestry Alaska Region
Goals
- Help people to manage, protect, and improve their urban ecosystems.
- Assist communities in establishing effective, self sustaining community forestry and tree care programs.
- Train people in the proper planting and care of trees and shrubs.
This Forest Service nationwide program received added emphasis as the result of the 1990 Farm Bill (PL 101-624). This program is delivered through the Alaska Division of Forestry (DOF). The goal is to provide an opportunity for Alaskans to manage, protect, and improve their urban ecosystems. Urban ∓ Community Forestry assistance is provided to communities of Alaska in the form of technical, financial, and related assistance. The emphasis is on assisting communities to establish an effective self-sustaining community Forestry program. Trees help improve air and water quality, minimize heating costs from winter winds, and provide other global climate change benefits. The focus is on tree/shrub planting, tree care, and education as a means to strengthen relationships and to create partnerships with our communities. The program relies heavily upon volunteers to help effect an improvement in the quality of life and to develop a sense of pride in the community by having people working together.
In implementing this program, the Alaska Division of Forestry has developed a state strategic plan and established an advisory urban and community forestry council. A full-time community forestry coordinator and an information and education coordinator are employed to work with communities in establishing local community forestry programs.
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For more information contact:
Katharine Sheehan
USDA Forest Service- State and Private Forestry
Urban & Community Forestry - Program Manager
PO Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208
Email: ksheehan@fs.fed.us Phone: 503-808-2351
Patricia Joyner
State of Alaska
Community Forestry Program
550 W. Seventh Avenue, Suite 1450
Anchorage, AK 99501-3566
E-mail: Patricia_Joyner@dnr.state.ak.us Phone: 907-269-8465 Fax: 907-269-8902