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Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)

Role of Tree Boards

Reference Number: MTAS-1370
Reviewed Date: 11/21/2022

To help prevent potential crisis situations that trees create periodically, a community should establish a tree board. This board is charged with looking ahead to the needs and potential problems of the community’s tree resource. Doing so can save the community money and create a more aesthetically pleasing city or town.

Roles of tree board members may include any or all of the following:

  • Policy formulation;
  • Advising;
  • Administration;
  • Management;
  • Representation; and
  • Advocacy.

Roles
In addition to the long-term look at their trees, a community tree board may be responsible for accomplishing some or all of the following:

1. Planting trees;
2. Coordinating with other groups that might plant trees;
3. Preparing a plan of tree activities for the community;
4. Planning the Arbor Day ceremony;
5. Providing tree information to other groups;
6. Selecting species for various planting projects;
7. Arranging for donations of trees or money for trees;
8. Pruning young trees;
9. Collecting data on trees or arranging for a tree inventory to be accomplished;
10. Making safety inspections of public trees;
11. Advising municipal departments on tree problems and removal needs;
12. Setting up memorial tree planting programs;
13. Arranging for publicity about trees;
14. Establishing a local awards program to recognize individuals and groups for their tree efforts;
15. Handling complaints about tree problems;
16. Serving as a body of expertise about trees for the local government and its local citizens, especially when there is no city forester; and
17. Advising the local government on ordinance needs and revisions.