The plan is believed to set a precedent for urban forestry management. It includes a Street Tree Designations component, created in response to one failed attempt to replace non-native palms with other types of trees.
"In addition to approving the plan -- which includes a street-by-street list of all the trees in the city and their designated replacements -- the council extended the term of the Urban Forest Task Force for the next seven years to help implement the plan.
After a U.S. Forest Service study several years ago revealed that Santa Monica's forest was aging, it became clear that 'we needed a comprehensive reforestation plan to diversify the age and the species of our street trees,' Stinchfield said.
Former Mayor Judy Abdo, who was chair of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force, told the council that the plan would increase 'age and species diversity, canopy coverage and biomass,' while 'respecting neighborhood character.'"
FULL STORY: Council Approves Urban Forest Plan, Stiffer Fines for Cabbies
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