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Page Index:
1. Introduction
2. How to obtain certification
3. Urban Forest Certification
4
Arboretum Certification
5. Certification Arboretum and Urban Forest in Mississippi
add poster
1. Introduction:
The Urban Forestry Certification
program was created to encourage and recognize good examples of urban forestry in
Mississippi. If you, your city, local developer, homebuilder, school or other entity
has a good example of urban forestry and meet the 6 criteria outlined in the certification
then you can receive this designation to help promote the quality of the site.
This designation can be beneficial
by helping to increase property values of the site, encouraging more urban forestry
in your community and highlighting the positive aspects of your community, encouraging
more visitors and a higher quality of place/life.
A separate Arboretum Certification
is available for arboretums located in Mississipp
2. How to obtain certification:
3. Urban and Community Forest Certification
Application
The Mississippi Urban Forestry Council
(MUFC) certifies Urban and Community Forests( throughout the state of Mississippi.
The purpose of the certification program is to define what an (urban and community
forest( means in Mississippi and set standards for what is called an urban forest
for educational purposes.
3. General requirements For Urban and
Community Forest Certification
For the five year certification:
- The site for certification must
be two or more acres of land inside the city boundaries or located in areas where
people live, work or play. The site must contain a diverse variety of native tree
species. Number of species will be based on land mass within the site and conservation
of area natives.
- Sound planting practices must
have taken place.
- A long-term maintenance needs
to be in place.
- Canopy and green space percentages
must be a minimum of 25% of area.
Urban and Community Forest categories
The purpose of the categories is
to help separate the programming of land use for the publics benefit.
Please choose a category from the
following choices:
___ Commercial/Revitalization
___ Residential
___ Parks and Recreation
___ Traffic Corridors
___ Private Lands
___ Other Public Lands (Land Use:___________________________________________________________)
Application requirements
Please submit the following
1. A completed Certification application
form.
2. A list of all tree species labeled
with both common and botanical names. (Trees must be labeled prior to the submission of the certification application.)
3. A three (3 ) page or less description
of the site. Include information about how and why plantings were implemented, explain who maintains the site,
maintenance plan, site plans and describe what a visitor can expect.
4. Three pictures of the site. (Please
send pictures that illustrate the uniqueness of the site, canopy and planting details.)
5. Please submit the original and
five copies of the application. (Pictures can be photocopied in the five copies.)
6.
Optional signs may be purchased by applicant.
The signs are designed and approved by the Mississippi Urban Forest Council and
demonstrates to the public the Certification of the site.
7.
Certification costs $100 per site
What do certified urban and community
forests receive?
A list of certified forest sites will be published on:
- MUFC(s Web Page (www.tufc.com)
- The Green Communities E-News published by MUFC
- The Urban Forest Educational tool kit.
- A statewide and local news release
announcing certification and featured
in statewide magazines such as the MS Municipal
League.
- A sign that reads, (The Mississippi
Urban Forestry Council has certified this site as
a certified forest( This sign
can be displayed at all times.
URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST CERTIFICATION
APPLICATION
Community or Site Applicant:
Contact Person:
Title of Contact Person:
Name of Site or Area for Certification
(If one):
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
County:
Category applying for:
________Commercial/Revitalization
________Residential
________Parks and Recreations
________Traffic Corridors
________Private Lands
________Other Public Lands. Specifics:____________________________________________________________
1.
Site is
_________ acres:
2.
Number of Different Tree Species
Labeled:________________________
3.
Include a List of Native Tree Species
Planted:
4.
Include photos showing planting
practices in description of site:
5.
Attach plan for maintenance and
new tree planting:
6.
Copy of policies or tree ordinances
detailing tree protection,
planting and maintenance
of trees on site:
7.
Percent of Tree Canopy and Green
Space: _____________%__
8.
Include
a $25 processing fee
MAIL TO:
Mississippi Urban Forest Council
164 Trace Cove Drive, Madison,
Mississippi 39110
Questions:
Call Donna Yowell at 601-672-0755
or dyowell@aol.com
Arboretum Certification:
Also available by contacting the
Mississippi Urban Forest Council Email: dyowell@aol.com
Call: (601) 672-0755
Fax:
(601) 856-1660
4. Mississippi Arboretum Certification
Program
The MS Urban Forestry Council (MUFC)
began to certify Arboreta throughout the state. The purpose of the certification
program is to define what the word “Arboretum” means in Mississippi and set standards
for what can be called an Arboretum for public educational purposes.
5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
For the five year certification
- The site must be open to the public.
- Management practices must be in
place to protect trees from lawn mower and
weedeater damage.
Protective examples include: employee
training, mulch or herbicide treatment.
- Plant establishment should exemplify
modern planting and protection methods.
- Tree labels should be of a type
that will not cause significant damage to the tree.
Labels should be
mounted in the ground or attached
to the tree via a screw or other
non-damaging approved method.
Note: nailing labels to trees is
not acceptable.
- All labels must have the common
and botanical name.
- All tree labels must be at a readable
height and maintained in good condition.
ARBORETUM LEVEL REQUIREMENTS
Level 1 30 different species of
trees must be labeled.
Level 2 60 different species of
trees must be labeled and a pamphlet must be available for selfguided
tours.
Level 3 90 different species of
trees must be labeled. A pamphlet must be available for self-guided
tours, as well as volunteers, part
time and/or full time personnel for special tours.
Level 4 120 different species of
trees must be labeled. A pamphlet must be available for selfguided
tours, as well as volunteers, part
time and/or full time personnel for special tours.
The arboretum must have a newsletter
with at least two issues per year.
ARBORETUM CATEGORIES
The purpose of the categories is
to help separate the programming of the arboreta for the public’s benefit.
Please choose a category from the
following definitions:
Demonstration/ Research
Arboreta in this category were designed
to increase the visitor’s knowledge of trees. These
arboreta illustrate or explain tree
related issues such as what species grow in this area, how to plant
the right tree in the right spot,
and how to identify trees.
Nature Trail/ Garden
Arboreta in this category are designed
to bring the public outdoors to enjoy the aesthetics that
nature provides. These arboreta
usually are designed to educate the public about different tree
species. Most arboreta in this category
do not offer additional education besides tree
identification.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Please submit the following
1. A completed Arboretum Certification
application form.
2. A list of all the tree species
that are labeled with both common and botanical names. (The trees must
be labeled prior to the submission
of the arboretum application.)
3. A 3 page or less description
of the Arboretum site. Include information about how and why the
Arboretum was started, explain who
maintains the site and how, and describe what an Arboretum
visitor can expect.
4. Pictures of the Arboretum site.
(Please send pictures that illustrate the uniqueness of the Arboretum
and confirm the tree labels are
installed.)
5. A check or a money order issued
to the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council for the $40 non-refundable
accepted application fee.
6. Include the pamphlet for the
self-guided tour with a Level 2, 3, or 4 application.
7. Include a copy of the newsletter
for a Level 4 application.
8. Please submit the original and
five complete copies of the application. (The pictures can be
photocopied in the five copies.)
WHAT DO CERTIFIED ARBORETA RECEIVE?
- A list of certified Arboreta will
be published on/in:
- MUFC’s Web Page (www.tufc.com)
- The Green Communities E-newsletter
published by TUFC
- Free Training under the Master
Urban Forestry Training Program
- A statewide and local news release
will be issued announcing certification
- A sign that reads, “The Mississippi
Urban Forestry Council has confirmed this site as a
certified Arboretum.” This sign
must be displayed at all times during the certification
period of 5 years. Should
the sign be stolen or destroyed, it will be replaced at the
Arboretum’s expense.
APPLICATION TIMETABLE
- Application forms are available
beginning January.
- Applications will be accepted
on a first come basis beginning March 1 and ending
June 1.
Note: only a limited number of applications
will be certified each year. (Approximately 20-30)
- Applications will be reviewed
in June.
- The site will be visited between
June 15 and October 1.
- Notification of certification
will be given no later than November 1.
RECERTIFICATION
- During the fifth year of certification,
the Arboretum would be eligible to reapply for
certification.
ARBORETUM APPLICATION FORM
Applicant:
Contact Person:
Title:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone: ( ) Fax: ( )
Email:
County:
Circle the Level applying for:
1 2 3 4
Category applying for:
Demonstration/ Research Nature Trail/
Garden
Number of Different Tree Species
Labeled:
For Arboretum Levels 3 & 4:
Please list the number of employees
available for special tours.
Part time
Full time
Volunteers
MAIL TO
Mississippi Urban Forest Council
164 Trace Cove Drive
Madison, MS 39110
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