(1) The State Forestry Department shall provide technical assistance to cities, counties, other governmental units, nonprofit and civic organizations and other groups interested in planting and caring for trees in communities. Technical assistance may include, but is not limited to, the following areas:

(a) Establishing and maintaining local urban and community forestry programs;

(b) Developing local tree management ordinances;

(c) Developing public information programs to promote awareness of the values and benefits of the urban forest as a resource of the urban community;

(d) Implementing appropriate tree management and care practices;

(e) Performing street tree inventories; and

(f) Planning and coordinating local tree planting projects.

(2) The department shall make the fullest use of cooperative agreements, projects and resource sharing with local grassroots organizations, community action groups, businesses, local and state agencies, federal agencies, public and private schools, colleges and universities in designing, developing and implementing local programs, plans and activities. [1993 c.347 § 4]