June 19, 2013
Hello Urban Forests Friends,
Here’s what’s happening in urban and community forestry:
Thanks for all you do for urban forestry!
Regards,
Sonali Shah
Communications Manager
California Urban Forests Council
Policy Updates:
Cap and Trade Auction Revenue
Despite efforts by the California Urban Forests Council (and Conservation Strategy Group on our behalf) and other urban forestry organizations, the Budget Conference Committee, comprised of leaders of the Senate and Assembly, approved Governors Brown’s plan to loan $500 million of cap and trade auction revenue to the General Fund. While this is a disappointing outcome, urban forestry has been recognized by the Legislature and the Administration as critical component of any investments to be made through Cap and Trade Auction Revenue. Ultimately, it was political factors that withheld auction revenue from investment in greenhouse gas reduction project for this coming budget year. Efforts to create an auction revenue investment or expenditure plan for next year will likely commence in the fall. The combined advocacy efforts of the CaUFC and other organizations will be necessary to keep urban forestry as a top priority for investment of future auction revenue.
Proposition 39 Implementation
On Monday June 10th Governor Brown and Senator Kevin De Leon, author of SB 39, announced they had reached agreement on implementation of Proposition 39 (click here to view the press release). The agreement involves an allotment to school districts based on their average daily attendance, and may allow urban forestry projects to be funded directly through such allotments. The full Senate and Assembly will approve a budget soon so it is expected that budget trailer bill language for Proposition 39 implementation will be available over the next few days.
Invest From the Ground Up Update
Check out the Invest From the Ground Up campaign’s work in East Hollywood and Santee!
Highlights included: exciting speakers such as Dr. Kathy Wolf on the benefits of trees to business to a fun children’s workshop by Urban Corps on the need to provide trees with basic care to creative communications materials.
Survey results showed amazing movement with attendees reporting:
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25% increase in understanding that caring for trees can improve business.
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94% of attendees stating they would like to see more trees in East Hollywood
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83% of attendees felt that they learned helpful information about how to provide basic care such as watering trees.
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“Awesome speakers!!” “Great Project!” “Very informational”
Read more about these two campaigns:
East Hollywood, CA – Santee, CA
Free Fruit for All!
California’s first public orchard blossoms in L.A
The renovated Del Aire Park in Los Angeles County, with 27 fruit trees and eight grapevines, officially opened to the public at the start of the year.
The county paid $4 million for the improvements — and used a little creative financing as the fruit trees were paid for from funds designated for civic art. The purpose was to blend food and aesthetics into ‘edible art’.
“Community gardens and farmers markets are truly the town centers of our communities. These are the places where people gather and get to know each other” said County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
UF Poster Contest for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders
Know any 3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade Students interested in Trees or Art? Check out the California ReLeaf Arbor Week Poster Contest
Students are asked to create original artwork on the theme “The Trees in my Community are an Urban Forest.”
Submission deadline: Feb 15, 2013
Winners will be featured at the State Fair and awarded cash prizes provided by the California Community Forests Foundation.
Contest rules, classroom curriculum, and prize list are available here.