Danville launches tree campaign

The City of Danville will receive support from the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) to support and expand tree cover in the city. Danville is one of the first cities selected to participate in the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VADOF) Community Forest Revitalization Program funded by the USDA through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This project is provided to Danville at no cost to the city. The city will receive support for urban forest planning, management, and community tree planting.

Virginia’s urban and community forests are critical to both community health and resiliency.

“One mature large canopy tree, such as an oak, can intercept thousands of gallons of runoff annually,” according to GIC Director Karen Firehock. Staff on the project include GIC Urban Forester Kendall Topping. Topping noted that “Trees provide safe places for children to play in the shade and promote walking and other outdoor exercise.”

Jessica Huang, the GIC’s Community Forest Planner, added that, “Studies have shown that businesses also benefit from the presence of mature trees, with higher spending recorded in well-treed commercial areas.”

Trees are also a vital line of defense from extreme heat. As the effects of climate change increase in severity, shade will become more important throughout Danville. By 2070, the number of days over 95℉   will increase from an average of 8 days to an average of 50 days (Mid-Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments). One of the program’s goals is to increase shade in the hottest areas of the city.

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The GIC will work with the City of Danville as part of a stepwise process to advance local urban and community forestry programs, which will include:

• Tree canopy mapping and assessment.
• Code and ordinance review.
• Ecosystem services modeling.
• Establishing tree canopy goals.
• Prioritization of strategies.
• Community engagement and education.
• Tree planting on public spaces.

“With city-wide development on the horizon, strategic planning for our Urban Forest is vital to sustain growth in our community. As part of the program, the City of Danville has created a Tree Canopy Advisory Committee (TCAC) composed of city personnel from multiple departments and community organization representatives. Everyone on the committee is excited to work together to ensure the success of the program and in return support a healthy Urban Forest to benefit our community.” Jessica Smith, City Horticulturist.

The program will extend over approximately two years. The focus will be on underserved and disadvantaged neighborhoods, which will work with the GIC to choose how to regreen their communities through a series of community engagement activities and meetings.

Founded in 2006, the Green Infrastructure Center is a nonprofit organization that assists communities in developing strategies for protecting and conserving their ecological and cultural assets, including both wild and urban forests, rivers, wetlands, lakes and bays, soils and parks and open spaces. The GIC conducts research, land-use planning and land assessment and mapping to provide the suite of tools needed by communities to protect and restore their green assets.  For more information visit www.gicinc.org