(a) The purpose of this chapter is to:

(1) Promote the use of urban forest resources for purposes of increasing integrated projects with multiple benefits in urban communities, including, but not limited to, the following:

Terms Used In California Public Resources Code 4799.08

  • Local water: means rainwater, stormwater, recycled water, and urban runoff captured by urban forest sites through curb cuts, cisterns, tree wells, and other best management practices that offset reliance on potable water use. See California Public Resources Code 4799.09
  • Urban forest: means those native or introduced trees and related vegetation in the urban and near-urban areas, including, but not limited to, urban watersheds, soils and related habitats, street trees, park trees, residential trees, natural riparian habitats, and trees on other private and public properties. See California Public Resources Code 4799.09
  • Urban forest maintenance: means those activities that reduce tree mortality, ensure optimal tree health, preserve carbon sequestration and climate resilience benefits, and improve the full functionality of the urban forest. See California Public Resources Code 4799.09
  • Urban forestry: means the cultivation and management of native or introduced trees and related vegetation in urban areas for their present and potential contribution to the economic, physiological, sociological, and ecological well-being of urban society. See California Public Resources Code 4799.09

(A) Expanded urban forest canopy.

(B) Community greening.

(C) Increased carbon sequestration.

(D) Reduced energy consumption.

(E) Reduction of impacts of the urban heat island effect.

(F) Improved management of stormwater and dry weather runoff.

(G) Improved local water capture and efficient use of water for urban forest maintenance.

(H) Climate adaptation, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

(2) Stop the decline of our urban forest resources, facilitate the planting of trees in urban communities, and improve the quality of the environment in urban areas through the establishment and improved management of urban forest resources.

(3) Facilitate the creation of permanent jobs in tree maintenance and related urban forestry activities in neighborhood, local, and regional urban areas to enable workforce training for young women and men in disadvantaged communities.

(4) Optimize the potential of tree and vegetative cover in reducing energy consumption and producing fuel and other products.

(5) Encourage the coordination of state and local agency activities in urban forestry and related programs and encourage maximum community participation in their development and implementation.

(6) Assist the Department of Agriculture to prevent the introduction and spread within this state of known and potentially damaging or devastating invasive pests and diseases.

(7) Reduce or eliminate tree loss resulting from invasive pests and diseases.

(8) Promote policies and incentives for implementing entities that advance improved maintenance of urban forest canopy to optimize multiple benefits.

(b) In implementing this chapter, the department shall consult with the State Water Resources Control Board to identify additional opportunities to improve water resources management through urban forestry projects.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 720, Sec. 2. (AB 1530) Effective January 1, 2018.)

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 2 Contents