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May 2009 News Archive
May 6, 2009
County of Sacramento, Department of Regional Parks and Sacramento Tree Foundation
Collaboration Agreement
This collaboration agreement is entered into between the County of Sacramento Department of Regional Parks (County Parks), a municipal services agency, and the Sacramento Tree Foundation (STF), a California nonprofit corporation. The purpose of this agreement is to document and expand the collaborative relationship between County Parks and the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
Whereas, County Parks works to meet Sacramento County’s Strategic Objectives in the areas of Public Health and Safety, Sustainable and Livable Communities, and Community Involvement; and
Whereas, these goals include working to improve air quality, helping citizens live healthy lives that are free of preventable disease, developing and stewarding attractive and livable neighborhoods, fostering community involvement opportunities, and helping to build a strong community identity; and
Whereas, the mission of the Sacramento Tree Foundation is to build the best urban forest for the Sacramento region; and
Whereas, the STF defines the best urban forest as one that optimizes the social, economic, public health and environmental benefits of trees. In this context, the urban forest refers to the tapestry of trees and other vegetation that support healthy urban and suburban communities; and
Whereas, building the best urban forest for the region means that we must:
- Optimize tree canopy benefits;
- Achieve maximum canopy;
- Ensure the canopy is healthy and safe; and
- Ensure that the people who live within the urban forest understand appreciate, and support it; and
Whereas, both parties acknowledge that they have a similar mission, and that it is in their best interest to work collaboratively; and
Whereas, both parties recognize that although they have a similar mission, each provides programs and services unique to that organization. For example, the STF emphasizes programs to educate citizens on the value of trees and seeks to recruit volunteers and funding for community tree planting. County Parks’ primary focus is acquiring, planning, developing, operating and sustaining vital community facilities such as parks, trails and open space; and
Whereas, both parties recognize that there are numerous opportunities to combine their expertise and resources; and
Whereas, both parties have collaborated on numerous tree planting and stewardship projects in the past.
Now, therefore, in recognition that County Parks and the STF have a mutual commitment and desire to build and maintain the best urban forest in America, the parties agree that they may collaborate on programs and projects in the future, including, but not limited to, the following community-based, volunteer oriented activities:
- Oak tree planting projects
- Tree and urban forest educational programs and activities
- Native tree replacement projects
- Edible and non-edible landscape and shade tree planting
- Mature tree stewardship