In honour of State Arbor Day, Orange County is announcing that it has been named a Tree City USA for the 16th year in a row by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA initiative honours local governments’ increased dedication to expanding their urban tree canopy and exhibiting improved standards of tree care and community involvement throughout the year.
The Tree City USA designation provides towns with the structure they need to manage and increase their tree cover, which is an efficient way to address a number of urban concerns. Residents of the County take pride in the distinction because they want to know that their local government cares about the environment and that it is contributing to protecting it.
According to Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, trees give realistic and cheap remedies to a diversity of urban challenges, including lessening pollution, extracting carbon dioxide from the air, and saving energy bills for property owners. Most significantly, having a beautiful environment with plenty of trees and greenery is a sign of a high quality of life for both locals and visitors.
After planting over 2,500 trees and giving away over 1,000 Florida-friendly trees in 2022, Orange County will continue the effort in 2023 to grow and protect tree canopies. Along with this, a tree ordinance supporting the preservation of existing trees in future developments will be in place.
Future planning and funding for trees includes planting at least 10,000 Florida-friendly trees through current and improved programmes by the end of FY23, developing a shared Geographic Information System (GIS) layer of trails, parks, and natural lands to identify shade-deficient areas, giving priority to health and wellness benefits, and ensuring equitable access to trees and green space in deficient areas.
The key is to deliver tangible, measurable results, according to Kevin Camm, County Extension Director for UF/IFAS Extension Orange County. He added that they are walking the walk and finding more compassion in urban canopy conservation and strengthening. And also that their values trees.
Camm lauded several Orange County departments, including Zoning, Facilities, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and Environmental Protection. The County has prioritised protecting and improving its urban canopy through a number of tree planting, care, and maintenance initiatives, volunteer programmes, and legislative measures.
“As we mark Florida Arbor Day, we see where we are with our urban tree canopy and what our residents ultimately desire,” said Carrie Black, Orange County Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer. We are addressing this need by creating policies and setting ambitious goals for the upcoming year. “We need more trees and protections.”
