Regional forestry framework
The completed regional forestry assessment report quantifies the structure, function and value of trees and forests in the metropolitan Kansas City region. It found that the region’s estimated 249,450,000 trees provide extraordinary environmental benefits, including:
- Mitigating 37,000 tons of air pollution per year (valued at $286 million/year)
- Reducing building energy costs by $14 million/year
- Sequestering 1 million tons/year of carbon (valued at $20.7 million/year)
MARC is working with regional stakeholders to develop a strategy for facilitating more sustainable forest management in communities throughout the metro area. The plan framework explores local and regional opportunities and is built upon two key notions:
- Trees and forests are integral or required elements of community infrastructure. They are perhaps the only type of infrastructure whose value increases over time.
- Efforts to conserve and restore area forests will depend on local policies and actions. The framework structure will provide a wide variety of strategies that may be tailored to fit the varied needs, interests and capabilities of area communities.
Opportunities consist of four principal categories:
- Policy tools
- Planning and design strategies
- Forest Management Practices
- Community engagement and education efforts
Download a PDF of the regional forestry framework documents»