II. The responsibility of the Campus Tree Care Plan rests with FGCU Physical Plant Department.

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1 FGCU Campus Tree Care Plan Since the inception in 1997, Florida Gulf Coast University has placed a high priority on the preservation of its trees and green spaces, our wooded areas enhance the quality of life for members of the campus community. The University strongly promotes environmental stewardship and responsible campus forestry management as demonstrated in Campus Master Plan and the development of the academic and civic engagement criteria. I. The purposes of campus tree care plan are to: Collect an inventory of trees across campus by section, see attached overview map: o Complete a tree inventory within the main campus loop to establish a baseline canopy measure by November, o Use tree inventory data to set canopy goals and a timeline for achievement within the campus loop developed area. o Identify each type of tree on campus and post the environmental benefits of each tree on the Physical Plant website. Create a plan to inventory forested areas of campus with use of statistical measurement tools with assistance from the Department of Forestry. Protect and maintain forested areas on campus by managing the impact of development and construction on campus trees and the natural environment. Ensure that the removal of any trees on campus is conducted with proper considerations and adequate replacement program, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District mitigation plan. Remove the final five acres of invasive Melaleuca trees within the campus loop and replace with native trees and plants. II. The responsibility of the Campus Tree Care Plan rests with FGCU Physical Plant Department. III. The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is composed of: George Brown, Grounds & Landscape Superintendent Al Bielen, Assistant Director, Physical Plant Vikki McConnell, Assistant Director, Physical Plant Sarah Davis, Campus Naturalist and Faculty, College of Arts & Sciences Michael Weston, Senior Forester, State of Florida, Division of Forestry, Caloosahatchee District Keishla Negron-Acevedo, Student representative, (during the academic year August 2009 June 2010) Tyler Offerman, Student representative, (during the academic year August 2009 June 2010) Roles and Terms of Representatives: The committee members will accept to serve for a period of one calendar year with a renewal option. Members shall appoint officials who will conduct the day to day business of the committee. Committee members are expected to actively participate and contribute in policy and guideline issues as well as research and information gathering that would aid in the campus tree care plan. The advisory committee shall encourage and review tree planting service learning projects on campus and within the community and be actively involved in the care and protection of campus trees. FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

2 IV. FGCU Tree Care Policies Tree Planting, Landscaping, Maintenance, Removal of Exotics and Emergencies Florida Gulf Coast University adheres to tree care practices as recommended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Southwest Florida is a subtropical climate where trees grow year round; therefore any time is a good time to plant a tree, provided that sufficient water is available. The Grounds staff and outside contractors carefully follow these steps to significantly reduce the stress placed on the trees at the time of planting: A. Planting the Tree 1. Tree Selection: Tree and plant species used on FGCU campus will come from the FGCU Master Plant List. The list contains both native and exotic species that have been screened for adaptability to physical conditions and serviceability, to meet planting needs based on site orientation, drainage, soil condition, and other subtropical climate conditions. Where appropriate, the best plant shall be selected for a given site, which may or may not be a native. Trees used on campus must be preselected at the farm or nursery for quality. 2. Site Preparation: The planting hole should be dug no deeper than the root ball when measured from the bottom of the root ball to the trunk flare. If the hole is deeper than the root ball, it can result in the settling of the plant above the trunk flare and structure roots which can result in the root ball being planted too deep. But the width of the hole should be at least 2 to 3 times the diameter of the root ball with sloping sides. Soil will be replaced around the root ball and not over the top; soil will be slightly compacted to encourage root development. Dig a shallow, broad planting hole. Make the hole wide, as much as three times the diameter of the root ball but only as deep as the root ball. It is important to make the hole wide because the roots on the newly establishing tree must push through surrounding soil in order to establish. On most planting sites in new developments, the existing soils have been compacted and are unsuitable for healthy root growth. Breaking up the soil in a large area around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to expand into loose soil to hasten establishment. Identify the trunk flare. The trunk flare is where the roots spread at the base of the tree. This point should be partially visible after the tree has been planted (see diagram). If the trunk flare is not partially visible, you may have to remove some soil from the top of the root ball. Find it so you can determine how deep the hole needs to be for proper planting. 3. Remove tree container for containerized trees: Carefully cut down the sides of the container may make this easier. Inspect the root ball for circling roots and cut or remove them. Expose the trunk flare, if necessary. 4. Place the tree at the proper height and angle: Before placing the tree in the hole, check to see that the hole has been dug to the proper depth. Most of the roots on the newly planted tree will develop in the top twelve inches of soil. Trees planted too deep have difficulty developing new roots due to lack of oxygen. It is better to plant the tree a little high, above the base of the trunk flare, than to plant it at or below the original growing level, this level will allow for some settling (see diagram). Lift trees by the root ball and never by the trunk to avoid damage when setting the tree in the hole. Before backfilling check the position of the tree as it is difficult to reposition the tree after backfilling begins. FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

3 5. Backfill the hole: Place the tree with trunk flare one to two inches above the existing grade. Ropes, burlap, plastic and strings should be cut away and removed, with care to not to damage the trunk or roots in the process (see diagram). Place soil about one-third full and gently but firmly pack the soil around the base of the root ball. Fill the remainder of the hole; firmly pack soil to eliminate air pockets that may cause roots to dry out backfill the planting hole with the existing soil, add soil a few inches at a time and settle with water. The backfill soil should be tamped firm but not so firm as to remove all fine air spaces needed for a well aerated soil to facilitate growth. Complete the backfill, but leave the trunk flare completely exposed and water the root ball and the planting area deeply. 6. Stake tree, only if necessary: Stakes for support will not be necessary in most landscape situations, if the tree is grown and dug properly at the nursery or tree farm. Trees develop stronger trunk and root systems if they are not staked at the time of planting. However, temporary protective staking may be required on sites in hurricane zones where windy conditions are a concern. Two or more stakes may be used in conjunction with a wide, flexible tie material on the lower half of the tree to hold the tree upright, the stakes must provide flexibility, and minimize injury to the trunk (see diagram). Stakes and ties will be removed after the first year of growth in accordance with ANSI most recent edition. 7. Mulch the area around the base of the tree. Spread mulch around the base of newly planted tree at two to four inches deep but do not bring it adjacent to the trunk to avoid decay of the living bark at FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

4 the base of the tree. Mulch is organic matter is applied to the area at the base of the tree to hold moisture, moderate soil temperature and reduces competition from grass and weeds. Some good choices are leaf litter, pine straw, shredded bark, peat moss, or composted wood chips. More than 4 inches may cause a problem with oxygen and moisture levels. When placing mulch, be sure that the actual trunk of the tree is not covered. 8. Provide follow-up care. Keep the soil moist but not soaked; overwatering causes leaves to turn yellow or fall off. Water trees at least once a week if no rain has fallen, more frequently during hot weather. If the soil is dry below the surface of the mulch, it is time to water. Continue to monitor water needs of newly planted trees until rainy season begins or temperatures lower to a point that requires less-frequent watering by irrigation or watering vehicle. Only minor pruning of branches damaged during the planting process. Prune sparingly immediately after planting and wait to begin necessary corrective pruning until after a full season of growth in the new location. B. Transplanting Desirable and suitable trees in an area scheduled for development shall be transplanted by staff or outside contractor if the tree caliper is at least two inches and where an acceptable location is available. Stakes may be required on newly transplanted tree. C. Fertilizing Routine tree fertilization is not recommended; however, campus trees receive adequate nutrients from turf, shrubs and groundcover routine application of fertilizers. Newly planted trees should not receive fertilization during the first growing season except in a situation where a soil test recommends its use. Organic fertilizers are used only when necessary and a slow release type of fertilizers only will be used around the tree basins. D. Pruning The Grounds Superintendent conducts routine inspections of all campus grounds and landscaping then hires and manages an outside contractor to prune approximately 200 trees and palms annually. The contractor also prunes trees and palms annually through a preventive maintenance pruning program. Preventive maintenance pruning is conducted on an as needed basis at this time. All campus trees are periodically surveyed and rated based on their pruning needs to determine scheduling priorities. After planting, only broken or damaged branches will be pruned. Palm trees require regular pruning to remove potential hazardous debris during preparations prior to hurricane season and other trees are pruned as deemed necessary by the Grounds Superintendent. E. Landscaping Landscaping must adhere to the FGCU Campus Master Plan and all landscaping, new and old will use the list of acceptable plants on the FGCU Master Plant List. The best plant materials should be chosen based on the site conditions. The objectives are to increase campus tree canopy, biodiversity of plant species and enhance the natural environment. F. Fallen Limb Removal When limbs fall from trees on campus, members of the campus community can call in or make a service request (via web base) and by staff inspection to promptly clean up the debris. Every attempt will be made FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

5 to clean up dropped limbs within the same day, depending on the severity of the storm and the extent of the tree damage. G. Hazard and Emergency Tree Removal FGCU is in a subtropical, hurricane prone climate; therefore, storm preparation and emergencies are handled in a proactive manner. Periodic grounds inspections identify potential flying debris from dead or fallen trees and limbs as well as identification of potential brush fire hazards. When appropriate controlled burns have been scheduled in forested areas and replacement of dead trees or pruning is done periodically in developed areas of campus. Tree removals are done by grounds staff or contractor. H. Stump Grinding If trees are removed, stumps are scheduled for grinding, provided there is adequate access to the site. When the stump is ground out, the grindings are raked and left slightly mounded to allow for decay and settling. I. Managing for Catastrophic Events In the event of severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, fallen trees will be removed by the Grounds staff or an outside contractor. Roads and streets shall be cleared first, then access to critical buildings, such as: operations, administration, critical labs, student housing, the library, etc. In advance of severe weather conditions, all necessary equipment shall be checked for readiness and safety by designated essential personnel. Campus grounds and other operational responsibilities for pre-storm preparations are detailed in the FGCU Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). V. Protection and Preservation Policies and Procedures All construction projects on campus must adhere to strict permitting and mitigation plans per the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). All development activity that impacts the natural environment on the FGCU campus is monitored by an outside contractor. Violations to the approved and permitted development plan that negatively impact trees and the natural environment result in fines to be paid to the state. Therefore, the administration, construction contractors and conservation groups place high regard on the establishment of tree and green space protection zones. A barrier of wood, plastic or chain link fence is used as a barrier for each tree or grouping to protect the trunk and root systems and reduce damage from heavy equipment and trucks. No root raking shall be allowed within any tree protection zone at anytime during clearing, grading or construction of a project. No equipment or vehicle shall be parked or construction material stored, or substances poured or disposed of or placed within tree protection zones. Whenever possible, site work shall be conducted in a manner to minimize damage to protected trees from environmental changes such as altered drainage or other land disturbances within or immediately adjacent to the critical root zone of the tree. VI. Goals and Targets Continue to increase biodiversity and ecological health of the landscaped and forested areas on the 760 acre FGCU campus to help FGCU achieve the goal of environmental sustainability, specifically: Gather an inventory of trees on campus loop and set goals to increase canopy. Replace invasive species with native trees and plants. Protect campus trees to the extent possible. FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

6 Engage students in service learning projects to understand and appreciate the importance of trees and environmental sustainability on campus and in the community. VII. Tree Damage Assessment Trees on FGCU campus are periodically inspected for health and maintenance needs by the Grounds Superintendent and outside contractors. Additionally, forested areas and nature trails are used by faculty and student groups who perform classroom work and research in the natural environment. These groups communicate frequently with the Grounds Superintendent in regards to concerns, damage or health of trees and the natural environment. Campus trees are property of the University and are to be treated with the same regard and respect as other campus facilities and property. Acts of deliberate or negligent damage to campus trees will be investigated and adjudicated in the same manner as damage or destruction of University property by a student, staff, contractor or community member: If the tree protection violation involves a construction contractor, the Physical Plant will immediately issue written and oral notice to the Facilities Planning department, identifying the nature and location of the violation, and specifying that remedial action by the contractor is necessary to bring the violation into compliance. The contractor in violation shall immediately commence remedial action and shall have five working days after the receipt of the notice, or such longer times as may be specified in the notice, to complete the remedial actions required to bring the activity into compliance with this policy. Should a violation involve a student, the individual will be held to the Student Code of Conduct at Florida Gulf Coast University. If a student (undergraduate and graduate) violate the standards, he or she will go through a hearing where either the administration or the student conduct committee will impose disciplinary penalties, examples include: written reprimand, restitution, counseling assessments, community service, trespass from property, temporary or permanent removal from the residence halls, suspension from the University and expulsion from the University. VIII. Prohibited Practices Under no condition shall a tree be planted on FGCU campus for dedication without pre approval from the Vice President of Administrative Services. IX. Definitions Caliper Diameter of the main stem of a young tree or sapling as measured at six inches above ground level. This measurement is used for nursery grown trees having a diameter of four inches or less. Canopy Trees Trees that grow to a mature height of at least 40 feet with a spread of at least 30 feet, such as Live Oak and Red Maple in Southwest Florida. Clearing Removal of trees or other vegetation in permitted construction zones. Critical Root Zone The minimum area that surrounds the base of a tree, considered essential to support the viability of the tree; equal to a radius of one foot per inch of trunk diameter. Development Construction of buildings, structures or recreational fields that require clearing of site as approved in the Master Plan and permitted by SWFWMD. Green Space Areas retained as permeable, unpaved ground and dedicated on the Campus Master Plan to support vegetation. FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

7 Campus Master Plan Map and supporting documentation which describes the approved growth and protection plan particular site where vegetation is to be retained or planted in compliance with these regulations. The green space plan shall include a tree establishment plan, or a tree protection plan, and a landscape plan. FGCU Master Plant List A list and supporting documentation which describes for a particular site where vegetation, is to be retained or provided in compliance with the requirements of this policy. The landscape plan shall include any required buffer elements. See attachment. Native Trees Tree species indigenous to the Southwest Florida region, such as: Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Slash Pine and Red Maple, etc. Mitigation Plan Maps and supporting documentation which describe for a particular development site on campus where existing exotic trees and vegetation are to be replaced with native plants to rehabilitate the natural ecosystem. An outside environmental engineering contractor reviews and reports to SWFWMD on FGCU s compliance with the implementation of plans and holds the University accountable. Tree Protection Zone Area adjacent to a permitted construction site; where trees are to be preserved and the protection is essential to the health and survival of the trees. Site map from construction projects will describe the mitigation plan for each particular project where existing trees are to be retained or replaced with native trees. Agency References: American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A non-profit organization that established and provides direction and industry standard operational practices for environmental and tree care as well as other agricultural practices. Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) A non-profit trade association that promotes, through training and media publications, the safest and most appropriate practices of tree care. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) An environmental resource permit is required before beginning any construction activity that would affect wetlands, alter surface water flows or contribute to water pollution. X. Communication Strategy After the adoption of the Campus Tree Care Plan and Policies by the FGCU Tree Advisory Committee, an article on FGCU s participation in the Tree Campus USA shall be placed in the student s newspaper Eagle News and the university magazine The Pinnacle that is distributed to donors, alumni and business associates of FGCU. An All Staff will be sent to the FGCU community and specifics of the program will be placed on the FGCU Physical Plant Website. Additionally, a press release shall be made to the local media through the office of Office of Communication & Marketing. FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

8 Dedicated Annual Expenditures for Campus Tree Program Staff and Equipment 2009 The FGCU Physical Plant Grounds Superintendent hires licensed contractors to plant, transplant and prune trees. The Superintendent manages all projects to ensure activities meet requirements of the FGCU Tree Care Plan. Grounds Superintendent and 2 Grounds staff - half time $70,001 Grounds & Landscape Contractor - monthly services $170,880 Grounds Equipment Kubota Tractor w/loader 10,925 Transplant New Holland Tractor 11,927 Sabal palmetto Sabal Palm ft 25 3,025 84" Bucket to fit loader 2,354 Pruning Trailers and wagons 3,175 Quercus virginiana Live Oak - large 49 2,100 Korg 6' Ton Trailer 1,925 Fertilization Watering Truck/Trailer 1,785 Quercus virginiana Live Oak - large Chainsaws 1,320 Roystonia elata Royal Palms 40 1,080 Equipment Maintenance 3,441 Grounds Supplies 5,890 Equipment Total 42,742 Trees Planted 2009 QTY Size Cost/tree Total T. distichum Bald Cypress 5,000 seedling Pinus elliottii Slash Pine 4,000 seedling Quercus laurifolia Laurel Oak gallon ,000 Acer rubrum Red Maple gallon ,000 Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay gallon ,000 V. obovatum Walters Viburnum gallon ,500 Ilex cassine Dahoon Holly 55 7 gallon ,485 Hamelia patens Firebush 10 7 gallon Conocarpus erectus Green Buttonwood 10 7 gallon Acer rubrum Red Maple 60 7 gallon ,620 Myrcianthes fragrans Simpson Stopper 10 7 gallon Pinus elliottii Slash Pine 50 7 gallon ,350 Acer rubrum Red Maple 40 3 gallon V. obovatum Walters Viburnum gallon ,690 Myrica cerifera Wax Myrtle gallon ,680 T. distichum Bald Cypress gallon donated - T. distichum Bald Cypress 50 1 gallon Myrica cerifera Wax Myrtle 75 1 gallon Total Planted 10,650 Total Costs 11,665 FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,

9 Summary 2009 Expenditures = $60,752 Full Time Student Population 10,220 X $3 per student = $30,660. FGCU s full time student population is 10,220 x $3 annual expenditure requirement is $30,660. Therefore, FGCU is well over the required amount of expenditures needed for Tree Campus USA participation Tree Appreciation Events Annual Nature Trail Clean Up and Appreciation Day November 7, students participated in a Service Learning Project for a total of 375 student hours 5 staff members volunteered Tree Planting for 350.og Day on October 24, students participated in a Service Learning Project for a total of 180 student hours 5 staff volunteers including the FGCU President, Wilson (Brad) Bradshaw The FGCU Annual Nature Trail Clean Up, Annual Student Earth Day, and the 350.org Day account for over 200 students, faculty & staff volunteers. Volunteer hours for 2009 are equivalent to $10,800 of labor value (3 hours per person x $18 rate). Volunteers participated in group projects that included: planting trees, pulling weeds, picking up trash, environmental sustainability education to students and community visitors on the FGCU campus. Tree and Nature Appreciation Events 350.org Tree Planting Day Volunteers Rate Hours Labor Value Faculty and Staff Volunteers 5 $ $ Service Learning Students 60 $ $ 3, Nature Trail Annual Clean Up and Appreciation Day Volunteers Rate Hours Labor Value Faculty and Staff Volunteers 4 $ $ Service Learning Students 125 $ $ 6, Total Volunteer Hours 201 $ 10, FGCU Tree Care Plan November 17,