Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mike Branson
City Forester
March 2, 2015
Trees soften and screen urban development. Combined with good planning
and design, treesblend diverse structures with a green unity that adds a
natural dimension to the Citys development over time.
Trees enhance peoples sense of connection to nature and history. Since
trees, like people, grow and change through time, we identify with them
and since they often live longer than us, they link us to times beyond our
own, spanning past and future generations.
G9-13
O9-35
Resources:
Staff
1 - City Forester, Mike B.
1 - Tree Care Specialist, Kelley G.
1 - Forest Care Worker (half-time), Kimberly M.
1 - Public Services Worker (currently assigned), Mike F.
Funding
General fund
Deposit account
Contractors
Very useful and effective
Specialized equipment
Support Group & Volunteers
Friends of Carmel Forest
Grants
Project oriented
Staff Consultations
Arbor Day
Educational Flyers, Advertisements, and Documents
Workshops
City Web Site
FOCF Events
Trees are a vital part of the Carmel-by-the-Sea community. They produce oxygen, reduce pollution
from soil erosion and runoff, add beauty, increase property value, give shade, and habitat for birds and
wildlife. Trees provide the following:
Absorb carbon dioxide, counteracting the global greenhouse effect. Photosynthesis fixes carbon in a tree where it stays as
long as the tree lives. An average tree captures nearly half a ton of carbon dioxide over the first 30 years of its life.
Reduce soil erosion and urban runoff pollutants from entering storm drains which lead straight to the bay.
Block wind. A grove of trees will cut a 20mph wind to 5mph.
Oxygen production for the planet which is vital for all living creatures.
Refuge and habitat for birds and other wildlife. Upper canopy trees shelter and protect the environment
of native understory trees and vegetation. Coastal fog condenses on the foliage and limbs of the upper canopy
trees and then drips to the ground providing moisture to the understory.
Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15
Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 7
Diffuse noise. Dense foliage blocks the sound of traffic and neighborhoods.
Add visual harmony and a sense of connection to nature and lifetime. The pleasure of exploring Carmel is enhanced
by the canopy of trees over the meandering streets and homes. Trees, like people, grow and change through
time and are often planted to mark significant milestones such as the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one.
Yards are improved and property value increases from 7 to 20 percent. Properly maintained trees are identified
in California surveys as a desired amenity in home sales.
Remove Tree
dead, hazard,
other
Grow to Maturity
contribute to
the forest
Maintain Tree
pruning, other
care as required
Monitor Tree ,
watering, address
problems, replace
if needed
Water Tree
once a week, 15
to 20 minutes
Forest Composition
Forest Inventory Data
Collection since 1974
City collected data until 2005
Friends of Carmel Forest
volunteers have collected data
since 2006
Used for identifying trends
REDWOOD 1%
CYPRESS
ACACIA
5%
8%
43%
32%
OAK
PINE
ACACIA, 8%
OAK, 38%
PINE, 34%
OAK
36%
OTHER, 14%
PINE, 28%
REDWOOD, 3%
CYPRESS, 7%
ACACIA, 6%
Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15
Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 14
OAK, 42%
43%
39%
40%
39%
34%
35%
35%
1981-84
34%
30%
30%
28%
1985-88
1989-92
25%
1993-96
20%
1997-00
2001-04
15%
2005-08
10%
5%
0%
2009-12
3958
9190
4026
10314
4043
10363
4230
12291
3872
11097
PUBLIC PINES
3096
9153
2692
8881
2513
8992
2001 -04
2005 - 08
300
2009 - 12
200
100
0
1" - 6"
7" - 12" 13" - 18" 19" - 24" 25" - 30" 31" - 36" 37" - 42"
43" +
FMP Implementation
Increase Resources for FPB Programs:
Additional Tree Care Specialist
Forest Care Worker full time
Maintenance Worker for beach
Support Vehicles and Equipment
Planting 125 150 trees
Data Collection and Evaluation