Urban Forestry Model vs. Conventional Perspective of Trees
Atlanta's Tree Conservation Commission supports The Georgia Forestry Commission's urban forestry model. This model attempts to place trees at the same level of importance as other critical infrastructure elements like roads and utility lines. The goal of the model urban forest is to enlarge and improve the urban tree canopy and to maximize the economic, ecological, and social benefits of trees in cities.
Atlanta Tree Commission Photo Flipbook. View here: Flipbook
The lists below highlight the contrasts between the conventional view of trees in cities and the concepts emphasized by of the Urban Forest Model.
| EXISTING DEVELOPMENT | MODEL URBAN FOREST MODEL | |
| Trees have low priority | Trees have equal priority | |
| Trees as ornament | Trees as infrastructure | |
| Individual trees | Forest | |
| Small and ornamental trees | Large canopy trees | |
| Lawn and paving | Vegetative ground cover | |
| Tree maintenance | Forest management | |
| Aesthetics-based design | Soil/Ecological-based design |
Principles to Improve the Urban Forest
1. Preserve existing trees and forests.
2. Increase space for tree planting.
3. Preserve and improve the quality of the tree-growing environment.
4. Select trees for diversity and suitability.
5. Select efficient planting locations.
6. Manage the urban forest as a continuous resource
regardless of ownership boundaries.
Source: The Georgia Forestry Commission, in its Model Urban Forest Handbook, a document created to help communities better understand, preserve, plant, and maintain trees and forests as an important community resource.
| BENEFITS OF THE URBAN FOREST | RECOMMENDED TREE PLANTNG LIST | HISTORIC AND LANDMARK TREES |