Urban Forestry by Tristan Ragsdale

1. The City of Chico’s Citizen
Tree Planting Program
“Thanks” or
“Leaf Me Alone”
A 2012 Geography Department Master’s Project
by
Tristan E. Ragsdale

3. Benefits of Urban Forests
 Physical and emotional
 Environmental
– Absorb 33,000 lbs pollutants per year
– 1500 tons CO2 stored annually
– 20 million gallons water captured
 Economic
– 30% less energy
– $2 billion savings annually with 100 million
trees

4. What is a Street Tree?
Street tree ownership within the City of Chico. Only trees planted within the ROW (right-of-
way) line are the city’s responsibility and where residents or business owners can plant a
street tree(s). Source: Denice Britton 2011.

5. Citizen Street Tree Planting Program
(CTPP)
 Overview
 Over 30,000 street trees in the City of Chico
 Over 3,500 potential street tree sites
 Survival rates

6. City of Chico
Street Tree Planting
Locations
Source: Denice Britton, 2012

7. Denice Britton at a workshop demonstrating proper street tree planting technique. Photo: Scott Gregory.

8. Internship/Project
 Assist in CTPP implementation
 Determine the effectiveness of the CTPP
from the analysis of motivational and
disincentive responses
 Make recommendations

9. Methodology

10. CTPP Project Questionnaires
Permit Applicant
Non-Permit Applicant

11. Code Book Sample

12. CTPP Results
 60 workshop attendees
 61 Trees Planted
 37 CTPP participants
 248 CTPP non-participants

13. City of Chico Maintenance Zones
Map illustrating the maintenance zones of Chico. Source: Denice Britton 2011.

14. CTPP Site Results
Number of CTPP Chico Street Tree
Maintenance Zone Trees Inventory
1 10 16.39% 7,196 23.80%
2 10 16.39% 2,434 8.00%
3 3 4.92% 1,106 3.70%
4 15 24.59% 4,279 14.00%
5 14 22.95% 6,148 20.30%
6 8 13.11% 4,677 15.50%
7 1 1.64% 4,439 14.70%
Total 61 100.00% 30,279 100.00%

15. Site Locations
Participant tree planting site locations within the City of Chico.

16. Survey Results
 Expected return rate of similar surveys is
30% (McLafferty, 2003)
 21/37 (56%) of permit applicants returned
surveys
 98/248 (40%) of non-permit applicant
participants returned surveys

17. Participant Response
Question One: Please check off the reasons why you have participated in the City
of Chico’s tree-planting program
Not a
A Factor Factor
Motivation for participation (1) 2 3 4 (5) N Value
Beautification 17 1 2 0 1 21
Property Value 5 2 3 1 6 17
Energy Savings 6 3 1 2 5 17
Wildlife Habitat 5 2 2 1 6 16
Privacy 1 0 2 2 8 13
Shade 15 3 0 0 1 19
"Free Tree" 10 2 4 1 0 17
"Improve Neighborhood" 15 2 1 1 0 19

18. Non-Participant Response
Question 1. Why did you not participate in the CTPP?
Reason for not participating in Not a
the CTPP and getting a street A Factor Factor
tree (1) 2 3 4 (5) N -value
Too much trouble 20 4 3 4 24 55
Not enough time 11 7 4 3 21 46
City's responsibility? 12 3 5 4 24 48
Government interaction? 6 4 4 3 28 45
Unable to plant 15 0 2 5 27 49

19. Qualitative Responses
Question #4 both questionnaires: comments
or recommendations for future CTPP
Positive (34/44)
“Keep doing it. As a participant I now have a
personal investment and interest in the
welfare of our new tree.”
Negative (10/44)
“We do not want any city trees.”

20. Conclusion
95% maintenance behavior compliance rate
Over 60 trees planted
37 participants

21. Recommendations
 If possible, remove proof of homeowners
insurance requirement – umbrella insurance plan?
 Involve non-profits or utility companies
– Butte Environmental Council
– PG & E
 Create permanent internship
– Provide transportation
– Plant trees for those willing to water
– Door hanging brochure

22. Thank you

23. The City of Chico’s Citizen
Tree Planting Program
“Thanks” or
“Leaf Me Alone”
A 2012 Geography Department Master’s Project
By
Tristan E. Ragsdale