Policy Toolkit: Protecting Mature Urban Trees on Private Lands

No two cities are the same - and neither should be their efforts to protect urban forests. There are countless methods to protect trees and increase canopy cover, but choosing the right strategy for your city can be overwhelming. In this toolkit, we highlight unique, thoughtful, and promising projects that can be used as models for communities beginning their Biophilic journey.

 

Data Collection, Engagement, Plan Creation, and Action are the four main steps to building comprehensive protection strategies. Our tools are ordered to reflect these building blocks.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1: Taking Stock of Existing Mature Urban TreeS

  • Valuing Mature Urban Trees

  • Mapping and Data Collection

2: Engaging Stakeholders

  • Campaigns and Initiatives

  • Education-Focused Projects

3: Adopting Baseline Regulatory Protections for Mature Trees

  • Preventing Tree Removal

  • Procedural Protections

  • Protection of Trees during Development

  • Enforcement

  • Private Mechanisms

4: Incentives, Financial Support, and Technical Support Policy Mechanisms

  • Creating Value for Retaining Mature Trees on Private Lands

  • Regulatory Flexibility for Developers Protecting Urban Trees

  • Financial Support

  • Technical Support

1: Taking Stock of Existing Mature Urban Trees

Valuing Mature Urban Trees

Mapping and Data Collection

 

2: Engaging Stakeholders

 

3: Adopting Baseline Protections

Preventing Tree Removal

Procedural and Legal Protections

Protection of Trees During Development

Enforcement

Private Mechanisms

 

4: Incentives, Financial Support, and Technical Support Policy Mechanisms

Financially Incentivizing Retaining Mature Trees on Private Lands

Regulatory Flexibility for Developers Protecting Urban Trees

Financial Support

Technical Support