Mississippi Gulf Coast Urban Forest Council
Volunteer Today!!!!
Programs:
MS Gulf Coast Urban Forest
Council - Monthly event and educational meetings.
Public Tree Give-Aways – Times vary
Free Master Urban Forestry Training – We will provide 25 hours of free training.
Local Tree Incubators -
Tree seedlings will be donated to any city or county impacted by Katrina for
growing out to supply trees for local planting when needed. Companies or organizations outside of
Mississippi are encourage to donate seedlings , containers and soils to help
accomplish this important activity that will help releafing efforts and inspire
new growth in these impacted areas. 10 established to date.
“ If Trees Could Talk” Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast - story
telling tape about the history of the coast under the canopies of the ancient
trees. Free with $25 donation or
membership. Free to coastal citizens
Katrina ReLeaf and Rhythms-
TBA, beach concert celebrating the live oaks.
“ In Celebration of Live Oaks” - educational poster
extolling the benefits of the live oaks on the coast. Free
Live Oak Awards- April
2006 recognizing the heros of Katrina Trees
Rebuilding Legal manual on
urban forestry ordinances and policy, case law, hazard/liability trees. $200.00
Educational Programs
1. Storm Recovery for Trees
Workshops - TBA
2. Storm Recovery for Trees -
educational kit free by request to citizens
3. Storm Recovery Resources- Free on web site on coastal program &
resources
Urban Forestry Display and
Educational Material for Schools - display and presentation on all the
Smart Growth conferences, municipal league and supervisors assn. Free
Conference on regional
urban forestry and rebuilding. June 2007
Save the Live Oaks
Yellow Ribbon Campaign- Simply tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak
tree you wish to rescue and protect. Tell the city, contractors and others. We
supply the ribbon.
MS
Gulf Coast Urban Forest Council contact: Donna Yowell at www.msurbanforest.com,
601-672-0755 or dyowell@aol.com
Paid for in part by the Coastal Impact
Assistance Program under the MDEQ an NOAA
and in partnership with the Mississippi
Forestry Commission
Mississippi Gulf Coast Urban Forest Council Update
We will begin to provide these
updates as frequently as possible in light of the level of need for addressing
urban forestry issues in impacted areas. .
Now that Mississippi is in the national spotlight and the role of urban
forestry is vital to the recovery and rebuilding and since federal funding requests and resources
assistance is predicted to be available in the near future it is imperative
that all partners coordinate and communicate to reduce replication and to
ensure best use of federal dollars for all citizens.
The Ms Gulf Coast Urban Forest
Council was formed in 2002 and has conducted a number of program, events and
urban forestry initiatives throughout
the six county coast area. The Ms Urban Forest Council is the form most urban
forestry council in the state and works in partnership with the MS Forestry
Commission, the Ms Municipal League. The Landtrust,. Audubon, Marine Resources, DEQ and NOAA. Our coastal programs are paid for though a
grant from NOAA, MDEQ and the CIAP program.
The Gulf Coast branch has
conducted many valuable programs and consists of constituents on every level of
community involvement, from citizens to city planners, arborist and decision
makers.
Since Katrina struck, several
new activities have been added to this already diverse list .
1. First urban forestry responders after Katrina- delivery of Storm
Recovery- Trees
2. National requests made for
arborist and professional tree workers
3. National requests for
educational material for schools and citizens
4. Delivery and dissemination of all educational to county offices
and FEMA offices on coast. Mailed
over 1200 kits directly by request from newspaper articles. USDA Forest Service
CD, Storm over The Urban Forest
and NADF Strom Recovery- Trees.
5. Ordered 7000 seedlings to be given to local groups for grow out
6. Sister City program- city not impacted adopts city impacted and
grow out trees for them
7. Katrina ReLeaf and Rhythms- April 22
The Ms Gulf Coast Council
operates on a very small budget and budgets were even reduced more last year
based on USDA realignment. Yet with
these few dollars we are able to produce many services and benefits to the
people of the coast. With needed
funding these services could increase significantly. We have a home office in Gulfport and need funds to hire people
for that office.
We have been communicating
directly with the Ms Forestry Commission twice a week either through phone ,
meetings or emails to avoid duplication of services and better communication of
needs.
Mississippi has one of the
strongest and more diverse urban forest councils in the south. Our grants sustain our mission, its program
ans services so that we offer these free to communities and counties. We have
grants through USDA Forest Service, MFC, NOAA, EPA, DEQ, Home Depot,
International Paper and Plum Creek and others.
In order to sustain our mission we have been able to diversify our
partners and impacts.
Now that Mississippi is
requested federal funding for assessments and remedial assistance it is
imperative that these existing valuable local networks play an important role
in the delivery of programs.
Immediate Upcoming activities:
1. Sign age on trees calling for
protection during cleanup.
2. Unveiling the story telling tape, “If Trees Could Talk” at
Anderson art festival in Ocean Springs, Nov 5
3. Training sessions on Storm Recover- Trees- Dec 1 in Gulfport
4. Ms Gulf Coast Urban Forest Council-- meeting
