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City of Tampa Urban Forest Logo

City of Tampa
Urban Ecological Analysis
and Management Plan 2010-2012
City of Tampa Seal City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department Logo University of South Florida Logo University of Florida Logo

Introduction

City of Tampa 2006 Tree Canopy Cover
The City of Tampa (City), University of South Florida (USF), University of Florida (UF) and the UF-IFAS/ Hillsborough Extension Service completed an ecological analysis of the City's urban forest in 2006-2007 [1]. Nearly five years old, the 2006 project examined the temporal change in canopy coverage from 1975-2006 and concluded that average citywide tree cover of 29% had returned to 1970s levels, that tree cover change was not positive in all areas of the City, but that the potential existed to substantially increase tree cover on most land uses within the City. The project also established two-hundred permanent sampling plots to conduct a robust scientific analysis of the vegetative structure, functions, and values provided by Tampa's urban forest. The estimated 7.8 million trees in Tampa provided ecosystem services with an annual economic value in the tens of millions of dollars and a replacement value of $1.4 billion, but that the health of trees on privately maintained land uses was much lower than those on publicly maintained lands. Using the results of the 2006-2007 study and grant monies from the State of Florida, the project team developed a report describing existing and possible urban tree canopy [2] and helped the City initiate the process to develop a long-term urban forest management plan. A major outcome of this effort was a vision (with goals) for urban forest sustainability developed by the Mayor's Steering Committee on Urban Forest Sustainability. More recently, the project team assisted the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a survey of community preferences regarding urban forests. This project will re-examine the City's urban forest as required by the Tampa tree ordinance (Ord. No. 2006-74, § 9, 3-23-06) and develop Tampa's first long-term urban forest management plan.

The project team will leverage the results of recent efforts to benefit the City. As part of the Tampa Bay Watershed Forest Working Group, project team members have conducted several scientific and applied research projects to better understand the social, physical, ecological and economic dimensions associated with urban forest management in the Tampa Bay area. Research funding from sources other than the City have contributed to knowledge that will be shared with and used by the stakeholders who will participate in the development of the City of Tampa Urban Forest Management Plan.

The purpose of this project will be three-fold:

  1. To re-inventory Tampa's urban forest in order to complete a 5-year update to the Tampa Urban Ecological Analysis (UEA);
  2. To utilize both new and previously collected field and remote sampling information to conduct a detailed analysis of structural and spatial change to Tampa's urban forest since 2006; and
  3. To develop a science-based, publicly-supported, fiscally responsible Urban Forest Management Plan based on the vision and goals developed by the Mayor's Steering Committee on Urban Forest Sustainability.

The project will be lead by members of the unique research team representing the City, USF, UF, IFAS and nationally recognized urban researchers from the USDA Forest Service and the Spatial Analysis Laboratory of the University of Vermont.

Download the full Scope of Work for this project: TampaUEA_2010-12_SOW_WEB.pdf

Project Management

Background Information

  • City of Tampa Urban Ecological Analysis 1975-1996. Kyle Campbell and Shawn Landry, 1999.
  • Tampa Steering Committee on Urban Forest Sustainability

    The committee was formed with representatives of a diversity of stakeholder groups, including: the Mayor's Beautification Program; Tampa Bay Builders Association; Arborists; Tampa Reforestation and Environmental Efforts; Tampa Electric Company; Urban Foresters; and the neighborhood and community associations within the City of Tampa. Meetings were organized and directed by a team from the University of Florida, University of South Florida and Hillsborough County Extension. Through a process of open discussion and facilitated decision making the steering committee identified a vision statement, goals and implementable strategies to guide urban forestry policy and management efforts within the City of Tampa.

Selected Additional Information about Urban Forests Benefits and Management

Project Documents & Reports

  • 6 Guiding Principles of the City of Tampa's Urban Forest Management Plan (proposed)
    1. Government Efficiency
    2. Economic Growth
    3. Public Private Partnerships
    4. Increased the social, environmental and economic benefits of the urban forest by reducing costs
    5. Support Communities
    6. Support Basic Tenets of the City's Comprehensive Plan
  • Steering committee membership
    • Richard Bailey (Richard Bailey Professional Forester, Inc.)
    • Gary Brown (Sterling Bay Homes)
    • David Crawley (URS Corp)
    • Tom Deal (George F. Young, Inc.)
    • Debra Evenson (Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful)
    • Cliff Fernandez (Dolphin Home Builders)
    • Evan Johnson (Tindale/Oliver & Associates)
    • Wofford Johnson (THAN Representative)
    • Carolyn McKinney (Tampa Audubon Society)
    • Daisy Packer (Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful)
    • David Rigall (Rigall/Design)
    • John Sample (Sample Properties, Inc.)
    • Sylvia Smith (Tampa Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.)
    • John Webster (Tampa Electric)
  • City of Tampa Urban Forest Management Plan - Internal Technical Advisory Committee
    • The Internal Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC), as agreed to by the Mayor, is composed of department directors and lead management individuals. The role of ITAC is to: 1. conduct an assessment of the Criteria and Performance Indicators, and; 2. come to consensus about the Framework for Action through the assessment and verification of the Criteria and Performance Indicators.
    • ITAC Process (as of March 6, 2012)
  • American with Disabilities Act, Sidewalks and Trees-Resolving Conflicts
    • On July 27, 2011 the University of Florida IFAS – Hillsborough County Extension in cooperation with the City of Tampa Dept. of Parks and Recreation presented a symposium for urban planners, designers, engineers, public works/maintenance staff and foresters on the American with Disabilities Act's requirements for sidewalks. The presentations addressed how to manage trees and large woody plants within pedestrian rights of way to meet ADA standards and how ADA might be amended to accommodate the hardscape designs needed to grow healthy tree cover in urban areas and reduce long term maintenance expenses. View online presentations.
  • Attributes of Common Trees in the Tampa Bay Watershed. Selecting the Right Tree for the Right Place is critical to urban forest sustainability. This preliminary list will help you decide whether a particular tree species would be appropriate for a specific locations. The list was compiled by Rob Northrop, Extension Forester and Luisa Falck ‐ Lazzara, University of Florida IFAS, Hillsborough Co. Extension.
  • Social survey
    • Community Preferences Survey and Analysis

      As an initial step in the development of a comprehensive plan for the City of Tampa's urban forest, members of the TBWFWG have designed a social survey to identify the perceptions of Tampa neighborhood association members regarding the urban forest. The survey will provide critical information on the technical needs of neighborhoods, their desire to participate in the urban forest planning process, as well as identifying educational opportunities.

    • 2007 Survey. A similar social survey was conducted in 2007 of community leaders in Hillsborough County FL - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr255
    • 2010 Survey. For a summary of survey findings, view the slideshow and presentations from the October 5, 2011 Public Meeting (listed above)

Questions / Comments

For questions or comments concerning the City of Tampa Urban Forestry efforts:

Kathy Beck
Natural Resource Coordinator
City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
kathy.beck@tampagov.net


[1] Andreu, MG, Friedman, MH, Landry, SM, & Northrop, RJ. (2008). City of Tampa Urban Ecological Analysis 2006-2007: City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department. Available as Florida Cooperative Extension Service EDIS document FOR203, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr265.

[2] Landry, SM, Andreu, MG, Friedman, MH, & Northrop, RJ. (2009). A report on the City of Tampa's existing and possible urban tree canopy. Final report to the City of Tampa, February 19, 2009. : City of Tampa, Florida, http://www.fccdr.usf.edu/upload/documents/Tampa-FOS-Document-lo-res.pdf.