saf7.htm

San Antonio Forest

Est. 1998

Action Plan for Community Involvement

In order to accomplish our goals, Bexar county communities must have a strong, well-run volunteer group to generate financial support for the San Antonio Forest and cooperate with local officials in identifying problems and organizing solutions.

To get started, we must provide information, training, volunteer opportunities, and access to funding to accomplish our goals and objectives. Publicity of our organization is a key element to success.

We must first organize ourselves as a non-profit entity and make ourselves known to city government. Next, we must codify our vision, establish goals and objectives, and set a timeline to measure our progress.

Next, city governments must be convinced to establish a San Antonio Forest committee, council or coalition to focus all available resources on this project. Working with city government is key to a successful, long-term plan. Also, working with the city arborist, educational institutions, local businesses, and state and county agencies will ensure the best possible results.

Establishing standards regarding tree planning, planting and care is among the various professionals, commercial companies, and local government agencies whose work encompasses the planting and maintenance of trees will be a huge step forward in establishing our urban forestry program.

Next, we must identify and make available educational materials, programs, and resources specifically designed for educating the public, government and nonprofit agencies, and for children in schools and extracurricular programs. Scouting, as an example, is an excellent venue to carry the image of the San Antonio Forest to young, fertile minds.

There are different standards of education and practice among the various agencies, municipalities, professions and companies involved in protecting and maintaining community trees, forests and urban ecosystems in the United States. Lack of good planning and maintenance, inappropriate planting practices, and insufficient financial resources results in the deterioration of trees and forests, and therefore the quality of the communities' living environments. A long-term goal of San Antonio Forest must be standards to be employed county and state-wide.

We must also, in concert with the city councils, promote and support the establishment of management objectives for each municipal program to train and educate those involved in all fields and endeavors related to tree resource management. This will be the focus of support sought out from private enterprise with the short and long term return in economic growth in our communities.

Some of the reasons economics plays an important role in this project are:

  • A well maintained landscape which contains mature trees can result in an increase to property values up to 25 percent
  • Trees can cool houses in the summer. A city lot with 30 percent plant cover provides the equivalent cooling necessary to air condition two moderately sized houses 12 hours a day in the summer
  • Trees, especially evergreens, help homes to retain heat energy in the winter, by blocking wind
  • Trees also protect homes by acting as a wind block, resulting in less damage to homes during storms
  • Trees reduce air pollution, a current hot topic in San Antonio
  • Trees reduce noise pollution, a growing problem in our city and neighborhoods
  • Trees reduce erosion, This in turn helps control flood damage costs, especially needed in some of our newer neighborhoods
  • Trees improve visual appeal, both to the city overall and our neighborhoods. In turn, this improves the economic value of property and helps with tourism
  • Trees attract wildlife, especially birds, which in turn help to control insects
  • Trees provide privacy, a necessity in any city

    To be successful will take a strong group effort, with much individual dedication to our program. The best way to advertise (and the cheapest) is by word-of-mouth. Tell your neighbor, tell your congregation, explain to your kids what we are all about. Talk with our elected officials and ask for their support. Share this web page address and send letters to the editor. This must be a low cost, high energy project to be fruitful.

    We all want to leave our county and our environment better than we found it. What better way than a beautiful cool-green city, with strong educational programs and city ordinances to ensure the Bexar county of the future is found sheltered within its own forest.

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