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Using Agnes Scott College as a case study, the presenters will discuss the development and implementation of an audit of urban forestry practices on the Agnes Scott Campus in Decatur, Georgia. Following a short introduction to checklists and audits that have been developed and used in related natural resource management areas, the presenters will review the ten major categories of this auditing protocol and illustrate how to develop and use a customized audit checklist for your urban forest management program.
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Implementing an Urban Forest Sustainability and Management Audit
Ed Macie, USFSClaudia Mitchell, Agnes Scott College
Urban Forest Sustainability and Management Audit
A Convergence of Concepts:
● Forest Service U&CF goal to build urban forest capacity at the local level towards a “gold standard”.
● The importance to recognize and enhance the multi-disciplinary nature of the practice.
● The need to create a tool for benchmarking.
Audit
Audit• A systematic and independent examination of data,
statements, records, operations, and performance of an organization for a stated purpose.
• The audit team collects and evaluated evidence related to the stated purpose and communicates the evaluation through an audit report.
ChecklistProcess
Checklist
❑ CATEGORIES❑ Components❑ Criteria
Describes and Establishes❑ Standards of Care❑ Core Competencies❑ A Scoring System
❑ Policy and Ordinances❑ Professional Capacity and
Training❑ Funding and Accounting❑ Authority❑ Inventories❑ UF Management Plans❑ Risk Management❑ Disaster Planning❑ Practices (Standards and BMPs)❑ Community❑ Green Asset Evaluation
Process● Discovery Phase● Initial Discussion Phase● Green Asset Evaluation● Interview● Final Discussion● Report – Exit Conference● Response
β Test: Agnes Scott College
Why Agnes Scott College?● Small Urban College, Environmentally-Minded, Significant Campus
Forest
● The Agnes Scott Arboretum Advisory Committee – Gap Analysis
● USFS Interests, Parallel Objectives
● Audit Team Established, Process Explored
Research: Discovery Phase● Existing Documentation
o Past research, proposals, plans from campus arboristo Campus Tree Care Plan
● Green Asset Evaluationo A general assessment of the state of the campus treeso Use of Tree Care Standards
● Initial results o Discovery Matrix Created to Identify Gapso Example: Budget Gap
Further Research● For audit development and criteria
○ Research into comparable institutions' practices
○ ASC Canopy Coverage Analysis○ Audit ratings scale developed
● Rebekah Protection Plan○ Drafted a tree protection plan for use on
campus renovation project○ Method of initiating changes, pre-audit
● Green Asset Walkthrough○ User friendly version of on-site findings ○ For future presentation, communication of
plan
Audit Report● Collaborative writing process
● Outline proposed by Agnes Scott, evaluation performed by USFS
● Structure of report:o Purposeo Ratingo Commendationso Findings and Assessmento Recommendationso Closingo Appendix
RecommendationsKey Findings
● Program Documentation
● Funding and Accountability
● Cohesive Campus Urban Forest Policy
Institution Reaction● Positive Reception
o Value of program effectively communicated
o Improved upon Interview Phase reaction
● Future planso To be reviewed and approved
by Arboretum Advisory Committee
o Key points of change presented to College Board of Trustees
o Implementation plan being drafted per to audit recommendations
Where Do We Go From Here ?
• Test in other communities.
• Advise NADF Growth Award.
• Publish and encourage application.
Thank You!
Audit Team
Ed Macie, Audit Team LeadRegional Urban Forester, USFS Southern Region Dudley Hartel, Audit StaffConsulting Arborist, Agnes Scott College Jim Abbot Chair, Agnes Scott Arboretum Advisory Committee Susan KiddDirector, Agnes Scott College Office of Sustainability
Greg LevineCo-Executive Director, Trees Atlanta Lock RogersAssistant Professor, Agnes Scott College Department of Biology David WilliamsPart-Time Professor, Agnes Scott College Department of EconomicsClaudia MitchellIntern, U.S. Forest Service/ Agnes Scott College Office of SustainabilityKimberly Reeves