Program incentivizing residents to plant mature trees returns | City of Sarasota
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
City of Sarasota, FL: Following a successful first round, Phase II of the Mature Tree Pilot Program has been launched. The initiative offers an incentive up to $500 to City of Sarasota homeowners who pay $100 toward the cost of purchasing and planting an approved mature tree. Trees cost less than $600.
Program participants will purchase and own the tree and will be required to water, prune and maintain it. A tree landscaper will obtain required permits, deliver, and plant the tree. Once the planting is verified by City staff, the City will reimburse the resident up to $500.
Approximately 75 trees will be funded in Phase II on a first come, first serve basis. Complete program details are available in the Mature Tree Pilot Program Guidelines.
During Phase I, launched in November 2019, 23 mature trees were planted throughout the city.
Homeowners can select from a dozen approved species, from gumbo limbo to silver buttonwood to magnolia. (Palms are not included.) Approved trees and pricing are listed in the Mature Tree Pilot Program Guidelines.
The program focuses on planting mature canopy and understory trees with a 2-inch caliper. Planting is limited to the right of way or within 15 feet of the right of way.
In addition to beautifying the community, trees provide significant benefits including saving energy, cleaning stormwater runoff, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cleaning the air, lowering the urban heat island effect, providing wildlife habitat, and improving overall health and well-being for people.
The Mature Tree Pilot Program is funded with $30,000 from the City’s tree replacement fund which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used specifically for urban canopy programs.
Detailed information about the program is available online.
Sarasota resident Lou Costa, a retired principal engineer, is volunteering his time to administer the initiative.
Residents interested in participating in the Mature Tree Pilot Program should contact Lou Costa: [email protected]