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URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, COLUMBUS, OH

Completed by Davey Resource Group
Urban & Community Forestry Services

Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan

Davey Resource Group helped the City of Columbus, Ohio develop its first-ever urban forest master plan to accommodate city growth while combating climate change, earning an Ohio APA planning award in the process.

Project Narrative:

Attracted by the city’s quality of life, Columbus, Ohio has seen tremendous growth and development over the last decade. While this growth presents many opportunities, it also poses challenges that coupled with the pressures of a changing climate could have significant impacts on the city and its residents. In late 2019, to help mitigate these effects, engage the community, and achieve the city’s vision for a healthy, resilient, equitable, and sustainable urban forest the City of Columbus undertook the process of developing its first Urban Forestry Master Plan.

As part of the Urban Forestry Master Plan consulting team formed by the City of Columbus, Davey Resource Group (DRG) performed the following:

Assessed the current state of Columbus’ urban forest utilizing tree inventory and tree canopy data, city codes, policies, and programs to inform the plan’s recommendations.
Conducted a social equity analysis to identify and prioritize areas in need of tree canopy cover.
Completed a tree placement analysis to identify the number of trees that could potentially be planted on public and private property within the city.
Assisted in facilitating public engagement activities with diverse stakeholders.
Conducted an extensive urban forestry operations review, including staff interviews, field tours, and budget analyses to understand the issues, opportunities, and challenges around public tree management.
Co-authored the Urban Forest Master Plan.
Developed a companion document, Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan Technical Report to provide greater detail on the state of Columbus’ urban forest.

Callout:

The Urban Forest Master Plan, adopted in 2021, provides the city with a blueprint and strategic plan to prioritize, preserve, and grow Columbus’ urban forest.