Feasibility Study for "Is the Urban Forest a Natural Resource Public Utility?" (G-5-98-20-076)

This project aimed at introducing urban forestry as a Biogenic Public Utility rather than having simply aesthetic value or as an added amenity to urban settings.

Contemporary urban forestry has struggled under the label of aesthetics and amenities since its inception many years ago. In the majority of governmental debates involving budget allocations, city tree care is among the first to experience the fiscal axe. It would appear that the innocent connotation of "aesthetics and amenities" is compromising adequate funding. To affect this issue, it is proposed that a more penetrating designation for urban forests is that of a "Biogenic Public Utility (BPU)." This designation is not offered as a testable scientific hypothesis. It is essentially a methodology intended to strengthen the purpose and posture of trees in places where people live, work and play and to influence public policy. A Biogenic Public Utility is defined as: "the utility service produced by living organisms that supply the general public with an essential commodity or service such as cooling, clean air, flood control and carbon sequestering and storage.

1.Gain formal recognition of urban trees as a Natural Resource Public Utility by the California Public Utilities Commission.

2.Influence public policy regarding tree related legislation.

Attachments

Click here to download this final grant report as a PDF.

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