Urban Forestry in San Antonio

The cTc Urban Forest Management Program

San Antonio's urban forest is a natural life-support system that sustains our air and water resources and contributes to the health and quality of life of our people. This green infrastructure is worth billions of dollars and should be managed, improved, and maintained similar to transportation and stormwater systems.

Urban Ecosystem Analysis Phase 2: Data For Decision Making, a scientific study of the environmental benefits of San Antonio's urban forest, recommends 35% overall tree canopy cover. Accordingly, we are proposing a six-component program whose goal is attainment of 35% tree canopy cover by 2021.

The six components are:

1. Evaluation of our existing urban forest
2. Evaluation of the tree preservation ordinance
3. Evaluation of current tree planting programs
4. Trend projections and formulation of tree planting/preservation targets
5. A full-time Urban Forester for the City of San Antonio
6. A Citizens Advisory Committee

The San Antonio Tree Ordinance

In 1997, following some high profile tree massacres, City Council adopted San Antonio's first Tree Preservation Ordinance (TPO). Although the ordinance is over 8 years old, many developments are exempt, even today, because of our liberal state grandfathering laws. This has led to well-publicized clear-cuttings like occurred at Pulte Homes' Encino Ridge development on Highway 281 North at Stone Oak Parkway.

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A new beginning

In 2003, the City revised the weak 1997 ordinance, which allowed homebuilders to destroy up to 93% of existing trees. Among the changes were:

• increased protection for large heritage trees
• strong protection for trees in floodplains
• smaller protected tree size
• increased preservation percentages
• elimination of the building footprint exemption
• protection for understory trees and vegetation

Wanted: more tree canopy cover

Despite claims to the contrary, research indicates that many more trees are preserved on developments built per the TPO. However, the same study shows the ordinance fails to provide adequate tree canopy cover on completed projects.

This tree canopy deficit results partially from overuse of the fee-in-lieu of preservation. Using this option, developers can choose to pay a fee instead of preserving the prescribed number of trees. Consequently, the rules need additional adjustment to slow San Antonio's rapid loss of tree canopy.

Two steps back

In 2006, after intensive lobbying by the land development industry, City Council made substantial cuts in preservation standards for certain species. Most devastating of these changes was the virtual elimination of requirements to preserve understory trees such as Texas Persimmon.