Great Valley Center Releases New Urban Forestry Guide for San Joaquin Valley Communities

Modesto, CA (May 6, 2010) – The Great Valley Center today released a new urban forestry guidebook for San Joaquin Valley communities during its annual conference, Valley Up: Ideas, Innovation and Inspiration, at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. “Urban. Forest. Tree” provides practical information on how to establish or improve a community tree program, including key principles and strategies for care and maintenance of trees and possible sources of funding for tree programs.

Click here to view the online version of the book.

Just as streets, sidewalks, sewers, public buildings and recreational facilities are part of a community’s infrastructure, so are publicly owned trees. Trees have myriad community benefits when properly selected, planted in the right locations and appropriately cared for and maintained.

“We hope that anyone who cares about the quality of life in their community will get excited about how trees can make a difference and then do something about it,” said Amy Moffat, director of research at the Great Valley Center.

In addition to creating shade, neighborhood character and green space, a well maintained urban forest can improve air quality, combat climate change, reduce energy consumption in buildings and provide habitat for wildlife.

In fact, planting 1 million trees in the San Joaquin Valley would achieve $10 million in energy savings. Planting 4 million trees would save the region $20 million in annual pollution cleanup costs.

The Great Valley Center hopes this guidebook will empower residents and community groups to work with elected officials to foster support and funding for urban forest initiatives.

The guidebook was funded by a grant to the Great Valley Center from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) and the U.S.D.A. National Forest Service.

For more information, contact:
Amy Moffat
(209) 522-5103
cell (209) 564-7308
amy@greatvalley.org

About Great Valley Center
Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is a private, non-profit organization that supports organizations and activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of California’s Central Valley, in partnership with the University of California, Merced. For more information visit www.greatvalley.org.