(Conservation Currents,
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, December
2003)
Thirty years ago, at the urging of a dedicated
group of citizens, Fairfax County enacted a Tree Preservation
and Planting Ordinance, one of the first local ordinances in
the nation to require the protection and preservation of existing
tree cover during the land development and construction processes.
The county also established an Office of the County Arborist
to administer the new ordinance and a Tree Commission, appointed
by the Board of Supervisors, to represent the interests of the
public in tree-related matters. Prior to 1973, there were few
or no requirements for developers to preserve existing trees
or provide landscape plantings for new developments.
By the mid 1980’s, development in Fairfax
County was at a break away pace with dozens of large residential
and commercial construction projects underway at any given time.
The Arborist Office became the primary instrument within Fairfax
County government to ensure the preservation and protection
of forest cover, oversee the removal of trees rendered hazardous
by construction activities, and ensure that required landscaping
was properly designed and installed.
In the 1980’s and early 1990’s,
professional foresters and arborists began reassessing many
of the long-held theories and practices about how trees react
to stress; how to mitigate the effects of stress; and how to
use landscape trees to heat and cool buildings and reduce stormwater
costs. The Arborist Office took a proactive approach to managing
the flood of changes to urban forestry by diligently monitoring
industry standards and updating local requirements affecting
trees and forest conservation when it was apparent that changes
were needed to mirror new research.
The last decade saw a series of events affecting
the Arborist Office. The office name was changed to the Urban
Forestry Division to better reflect the work that was taking
place. The Board of Supervisors adopted a local ordinance, based
on state-enabling legislation, requiring certain levels of tree
cover on developed sites, and the Board directed the Urban Forestry
staff to become more involved in review of proposed zoning cases.
In 1997, the county’s Gypsy Moth Suppression
Program merged with the Urban Forestry Division and was renamed
the Forest Pest Management Section. In addition to monitoring
and treating for gypsy moth, the county began to manage for
an explosion in the cankerworm population. Today, Forest Pest
Management is providing expert assistance to other county agencies
in the suppression of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
Fairfax County reached an estimated population
of one million people in 2001. Despite the huge population surge
over the last 30 years and the resulting development, we are
fortunate to have been able to maintain a relatively high amount
of forest cover. An analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery
reveals that approximately 45%, or 105,750 of Fairfax County’s
235,000 acres of landmass, was covered with trees in the year
2000.
In 2002, Fairfax County received its 20th
consecutive Tree City USA Award, plus a second Tree City Growth
Award, for significant improvements to its urban forestry program
and local ordinance.
To assess current and future trends of forest
cover in the county, the Urban Forestry Division is working
on a regional remote sensing satellite imagery analysis of forest
cover and vegetation. This data will be used to manage the urban
forest and will be a component of the Urban Forest Management
Plan for the county, which is scheduled to be published in 2004.
For more information and to contact the Tree
Commission, call 703-324-1770.
- Rezoning-Land Use Issues Affecting Trees
The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan and Policy Plan guides
development in the county. Residents should work with their
homeowner or civic associations, as well as land use councils
in their magisterial districts, to stay abreast of development
plans and to provide input. For additional information contact
the Urban Forestry Division or the Fairfax County Tree Commission
at 703-324-1770.
- Tree Care and Neighbor-Tree Disputes
Homeowners often have concerns about caring for and managing
the trees on their property. Disputes with neighbors regarding
trees are best resolved through thoughtful communication.
A consultation with a private certified arborist can be helpful.
Contact the International Society of Arboriculture to find
a Certified Arborist, contact the Mid-Altantic Chapter of
the International
Society of Arboriculture.
- Native Plants versus Invasive Exotic Plants
Many homeowners have invasive exotic plants on their property.
These plants can seriously damage native plant and animal
communities and increase soil erosion. Invasive species cost
the U.S. an estimated 20-30 billion dollars each year in control
efforts and agricultural losses. Information on landscaping
with native plants and trees, removal of invasives, and finding
alternatives to plants such as English ivy, honeysuckle and
callery/bradford pear is available. Contact the Virginia
Natural Heritage program or the Virginia
Native Plant Society. For Chesapeake Bay riparian buffer
restoration, contact the county at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes
or the Virginia Department of Forestry at 703-324-1480,
www.dof.state.va.us.
- Hazardous Trees
For trees within the right-of-way of most public streets,
call the Virginia Department of Transportation at 703-383-2105.
For trees on county parkland call the Park Authority at 703-324-8594.
For trees on active construction projects call the Department
of Public Works and Environmental Services at 703-324-1950.
- Citizen Participation in Reforestation and Tree Plantings
Contact Fairfax
ReLeaf at 703-324-1409.
- Large Scale Woodlot Management
To find a Certified Forester, contact the Society
of American Foresters or the Virginia
Department of Forestry.
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