(a) Trees and shrubs provide important services to the people of the Virgin Islands and are known to assist with the natural control of solar heat, soil conservation, flood control, and air and noise pollution. They also provide a haven for wildlife and provide citizens with psychological relief from the increasing complexities of the manmade urban environment. Heritage trees are a people’s living connection with their past and previous generations. Specifically:(a) Trees and forests improve the quality of life for residents of the Virgin Islands.(b) Forest lands and shade trees enhance the economic value of residential and commercial property.(c) Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reduce the urban heat island effect and lower energy consumption, thereby mitigating global warming.(d) The Urban and Community Forestry Program of the United States Forest Service encourages, facilitates and provides information and technical assistance to government agencies and other entities that will encourage cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry programs, which are focused on planting, protecting, maintaining and utilizing trees in open spaces, greenbelts, roadside screens, parks, woodlands, curbs and residential developments in urban areas.(e) The Territorial Forester, through the Urban and Community Forestry Program, oversees forestry issues territory-wide and delivers urban and community forestry support to the community. The Territorial Forester or his designee is responsible for developing and disseminating technical guidance and information and providing financial support for these programs.(f) The U.S. Virgin Islands Urban & Community Forestry Council (“Forestry Council”) is an advisory body to the Territorial Forester comprised of sixteen representatives from government agencies, public utilities, related industries, private groups, non-profit organizations and individuals concerned with forestry education, conservation and development in the Virgin Islands.(g) The Forestry Council assists the Territorial Forester in effective implementation of many aspects of the Forestry Program, including facilitating development, implementation and enforcement of the tree ordinance.
(a) Trees and forests improve the quality of life for residents of the Virgin Islands.
(b) Forest lands and shade trees enhance the economic value of residential and commercial property.
(c) Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reduce the urban heat island effect and lower energy consumption, thereby mitigating global warming.
(d) The Urban and Community Forestry Program of the United States Forest Service encourages, facilitates and provides information and technical assistance to government agencies and other entities that will encourage cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry programs, which are focused on planting, protecting, maintaining and utilizing trees in open spaces, greenbelts, roadside screens, parks, woodlands, curbs and residential developments in urban areas.
(e) The Territorial Forester, through the Urban and Community Forestry Program, oversees forestry issues territory-wide and delivers urban and community forestry support to the community. The Territorial Forester or his designee is responsible for developing and disseminating technical guidance and information and providing financial support for these programs.
(f) The U.S. Virgin Islands Urban & Community Forestry Council (“Forestry Council”) is an advisory body to the Territorial Forester comprised of sixteen representatives from government agencies, public utilities, related industries, private groups, non-profit organizations and individuals concerned with forestry education, conservation and development in the Virgin Islands.
(g) The Forestry Council assists the Territorial Forester in effective implementation of many aspects of the Forestry Program, including facilitating development, implementation and enforcement of the tree ordinance.