Davey Tree : Davey Resource Group : Specialized Consulting


Urban Forest Management and Public Works: Improving Communication and Building Capacity

The American Public Works Association, in partnership with the Society of Municipal Arborists and Davey Resource Group, successfully obtained a 2006 Challenge Cost-Share Grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to fund a project titled, “Urban Forest Management and Public Works: Improving Communication and Building Capacity.”
The goal of the project was to bridge a perceived “communication gap” between arborists and public works professionals. This goal was accomplished by Davey’s senior urban foresters performing a literature review, creating a series of Best Management Practice reports on:

urban forest management plans

staffing

budgeting

ordinances and policies

In addition, Davey conducted education campaigns on urban forestry management issues designed specifically for senior public works staff. This national project, which concluded in 2008, was successful because it targeted senior level public works managers through peer based programming that ultimately enhanced communication between public works and urban foresters to promote better management of the urban forest.