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Parks and Recreation
Urban Forestry
Tree Steward Program Coming to Roanoke - Class Starts in January 2009
Roanoke is offering a Tree Steward class designed to train volunteers to care for trees and teach others about the urban forest. Volunteer Tree Stewards prune trees, plant new trees in parks and public areas, conduct tree inventories, plan Arbor Day events, and educate homeowners.
The Tree Steward course begins with 30 hours of combined classroom sessions in the evenings and hands-on training on several Saturdays. An additional 30 hours of volunteer work will be required to complete the class.
The class gives practical information on trees, how they grow, soil and root systems, planting and maintenance, tree selection and identification, insect and disease problems, and pruning.
Roanoke is able to offer the class at no cost due to a grant from the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the USDA Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
To sign up for the class or ask questions, contact Helen Smythers, Urban Forestry Planner, by email or phone (853-5225).
Using CITYgreen Software to Quantify Tree Values
 The Roanoke urban forestry staff can use CITYgreen software to determine the value of trees on specific parcels of land. With this software, the effect of removing trees or planting new trees is quantified. The analysis of each parcel of land indicates the tons of carbon sequestered by the trees, the pounds of air pollutants removed annually, and the effect on stormwater quantity and quality. The findings are site-specific because each site's slope, land cover, and other characteristics are entered into the model.
As an example, the benefit of reforesting land can be measured with this analysis. One Roanoke park currently has 21 acres of trees, providing an annual stormwater management value of $20,800 and removing 860 pounds of ozone from the air per year. If the tree canopy in that park increased by 25%, the park would have 26.2 acres of trees providing an annual stormwater management value of $27,965 and removing 1,075 pounds of ozone from the air annually.
The "stormwater management value" reflects the deferred cost of dealing with increased stormwater runoff that would accompany tree removal. Trees stabilize the soil, slow down runoff from storms, and thereby reduce the need for construction of stormwater facilities.
Roanoke's site-specific use of CITYgreen was preceded by a 2002 report by American Forests that quantified the value of Roanoke's total tree canopy. The Urban Ecosystem Analysis: Roanoke, Virginia revealed that Roanoke's trees provide $2.3 million in air quality benefits each year. Furthermore, if Roanoke did not have its trees, the cost of building the infrastructure to handle the increase in stormwater runoff would be $128 million.
Assistance with this project was received from the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the USDA Forest Service and Virginia Department of Forestry
Roanoke's Urban Forestry Plan
View Roanoke's Urban Forestry Plan, adopted by City Council an as an element of Vision 2001-2020, the City's comprehensive plan. The plan recommends an overall 40% tree canopy within the City, to be achieved through public and private tree planting, in addition to requirements for more tree planting and tree protection during new land development.
Donate-a-Tree
Commemorative Tree Program
 Now you can donate a tree in honor or memory of friends and family. Donating a tree is a beautiful gift to celebrate births, weddings, graduations and other events. It is also a wonderful way to remember loved ones.
The Roanoke Commemorative Tree Program was launched on October 23, 2003, in Roanoke's Highland Park. The first tree, a pin oak, was donated by City Councilman Bill Bestpitch in memory of his grandfathers. As of September 2008, there are 71 Commemorative Trees in Roanoke.
Locations are available for Commemorative Trees in City parks and along City streets and greenways. For more information, contact Dan Henry, the City's Urban Forester, or view the brochure.
Protect Trees During Construction - Find Out How
Construction of new homes or other buildings can damage trees if special care is not taken. Even the storage of building materials or heavy equipment near a tree can kill it. The damage might not appear until after construction is complete and the new owner has moved into the structure. Every builder should know the easy and practical methods of saving trees on construction lots. Learn How to Protect Trees During Construction.
Another reference, especially applicable to Virginia residents and builders, is the Tree Preservation and Protection section of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.
What Educators Can Do
 Teachers and Students can learn more about trees at Tree Link, Love-A-Tree, A Tree for Every Child and 4-H Virtual Forest.
To learn about some really big trees, check out Virginia Tech's Virginia Big Tree Database.
Virginia teachers can see how tree education projects already fit into the Standards of Learning (SOLs) at Project Learning Tree and Forest Products and Recycling. The Roanoke Valley's Clean Valley Council has an educator that offers programs for schools.
What Homeowners Should Know
When your tree needs pruning or other work, always call a Certified Arborist. These professionals can make sure the work is done properly. To find a Certified Arborist in your area, check out Find an Arborist.
 Do you want to know everything about planting and caring for trees? Find it at these sites:
Trees Virginia, Ask Dr. Dendro, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Trees on the Web, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension websites on Trees and Urban Forestry.
Roanoke is a Tree City USA
 Roanoke has been named a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation for thirteen straight years. This designation is awarded to cities that value trees and take measures to protect and manage those trees.
You can learn more about Tree City USA by visiting the National Arbor Day Foundation website.
City Tree Maintenance
The City of Roanoke's Urban Forestry program maintains 12,000 street trees and 5,000 park trees. Highly trained forestry personnel manage and maintain Roanoke's trees for tree health, public safety and aesthetics. Professional foresters and Certified Arborists care for our trees. To learn more about arboriculture and how to become a Certified Arborist, visit the International Society of Arboriculture website.
Roanoke's Urban Forestry program plants about 400 trees per year, including replacement of trees that die and are removed. Replacement trees are planted on a request basis, and larger tree planting projects are done in cooperation with neighborhood organizations. A resident receiving a City street tree next to his or her property can help it survive by watering it and protecting it from mower and string trimmer damage.
 Roanoke maintains public trees on a request basis, supplemented with staff observations and routine maintenance of newly planted trees. Call the forestry inspector at 540-853-5219 for tree work or tree planting requests. For emergency tree work after business hours, call 540-853-2000.
Proper tree pruning is important. Roanoke's forestry crews follow national pruning standards designed to protect tree health. Improper pruning techniques, such as tree topping and over-thinning, can injure trees.
Learn more about tree topping issues from the Virginia Urban Forestry Council website at Trees Virginia.
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