THE LEAFLET

February may be the shortest month, but our Policy and Land Conservation team is quite busy! Overall, we’re attending seven Performance and Oversight Hearings at various District agencies to be sure trees get the investment they need to live long and healthy lives.

Every year Casey Trees staff and advocates speak in these hearings on the behalf of our Districts’ trees. During the hearings, our testimonies focus on encouraging agencies to work more closely together, pushing for transparency in decision making, encouraging agencies to hear and act upon community member requests for trees and green space, and adding more incentives to protect our city’s largest and most ecologically impactful trees.

So far, we’ve begun our testimonies by attending the Performance Oversight hearings for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Department of Transportation. We advocated for numerous things, but some of our main asks this year are as follows:

• Adjusting fees/fines to keep up with inflation.

• • As the cost of living and operational expenses increase over time, ensuring that fees and fines are adjusted accordingly helps maintain an effective and fair system.

• Piloting tree care programs.

• • Similar volunteer initiatives in other cities may serve as models, demonstrating successful community engagement in the care and maintenance of trees. This approach can help distribute the responsibility for tree care more broadly, fostering a sense of community ownership and environmental stewardship.

• Lowering the Special Tree threshold.

• • This is a legislative proposal to lower the threshold for what is considered a “Special Tree.” The suggested change is from the current criteria to a lower threshold of 8″ (25″ circumference). This change indicates the importance of expanding the scope of protection for smaller trees, recognizing their significance in the urban environment.

That being said, DDOT demonstrates outstanding communication in the coordination of street tree plantings. Casey Trees is both honored and appreciative of our collaborative efforts, and we eagerly anticipate the ongoing success of our partnership.

In the ongoing efforts to advocate for the DC’s green spaces and urban forestry, Casey Trees is gearing up for crucial hearings scheduled in the upcoming weeks. These hearings address various aspects of environmental management and sustainability within the District. Here is an overview of the key points Casey Trees will be addressing in each hearing

DPR Hearing on 2/22

In this hearing, the focus will be on acknowledging and commending the efforts of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in creating a new Resilient Small Parks and Open Spaces Program. Additionally, we plan to ask for DPR to prioritize developing a citywide Natural Resource Management Plan and creating more public access to natural areas with low-impact trails.

OZ/OP Hearing on 2/22

This hearing with the Office of Zoning (OZ) will cover topics such as the implementation of tree and slope overlay in specific wards, a study on the heat impact and stormwater retention of new developments (especially on steep slopes), and the importance preserving green space in new projects. Our asks involve urging the Council to require new developments to provide a supplementary heat impact survey, creating a parks and open space zoning designation, and requiring stronger justifications for removing forest patches and tree canopy to make way for development over vacant lots.

DGS Hearing on 2/26

The Department of General Services (DGS) hearing will delve into collaboration opportunities between Casey Trees and DGS, including an offer for Casey Trees to host free maintenance/mulching training for DPR contractors, and advocating for forest patches’ preservation through conservation easements and considerations for climate resilience in flood-prone areas.

OSSE Hearing on 2/28

The focus of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) hearing will be on the implementation and transparency of the environmental literacy plan, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE), and Nature Near Schools grant renewal. Casey Trees will address the need for standardized environmental literacy program oversight and advocate for teacher training to establish a baseline of environmental literacy.

DOEE Hearing on 2/29

The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) hearing will cover a range of topics shared in our DDOT testimony, including reducing the Special tree size threshold, updating fees and fines for tree removal, and a community tree care pilot program. Additionally, we will be asking the Committee on Transportation and the Environment to hold a hearing on a new bill that would establish an Office of Natural Area Conservation in DOEE.

As Casey Trees prepares to engage in these hearings, the overarching goal is to advocate for policies and initiatives that contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the District’s green spaces and urban forestry. We remain committed to fostering a sustainable and resilient environment for the community.

If you would like to learn more about what was presented, you can check out all the Performance Oversight comments submitted. You too could advocate for District trees in front of the Council (or others) when you become an advocate with Casey Trees!