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;
17. Advising the local government on ordinance needs and revisions; and
18. Educating the public about the environmental and economic benefits of trees.