Healthy trees help clean the air, reduce noise, provide shade and cooler temperatures, create homes for wildlife, make neighborhoods more beautiful, raise property values, and build community pride and quality of life. More and more, people realize that to protect their trees, they need to manage them as one whole system—called an urban or community forest.
One important tool communities can use is a tree ordinance. A tree ordinance is a local rule or law that helps guide how trees are planted, protected, or removed. However, a tree ordinance by itself won’t guarantee that trees are healthy or well cared for. It just gives a way to support good management. If the ordinance isn’t part of a larger plan, it won’t be very effective, and the trees in the community may suffer.
Often, tree ordinances are written to solve just one problem instead of planning for the future of all trees in the area. For example, some towns create ordinances to protect old, historic trees after residents complain about losing them. But this can lead to ignoring younger trees, and over time, the area ends up with too many aging trees and not enough healthy, new ones to take their place.
Tree ordinances should be just one part of a full tree care program, not a substitute for it. When used correctly, they can be very helpful in managing and protecting a community’s trees for the long term.
