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Who's the Tree Warden/City Arborist in your Town?

 Who is your tree warden? Public trees require care, whether it be pruning, fertilizing, removing or replanting. Trees that are cared for are an important asset to the community, providing beauty, shade, storm water control, noise and visual buffers, air pollution mitigation and more! Trees that are neglected often become a hazard to the community.

     An integral part of our natural heritage in Maine, trees are often overlooked in the community planning process. Trees are abundant in Maine, but trees in common areas, parks, streets, cemeteries and schools, are increasingly being lost to development, old age and urban stress. Without a plan for managing the community forest resource, many are losing the green in their towns.

     For those old enough to remember the towering elms that lined the streets of Maine, you may recall when your town named its first tree warden. As Dutch Elm disease began decimating Maine's elm population, it was the tree warden's duty to monitor and control the spread of the disease through town trees. Since then, many towns have retained the post of tree warden.

     The tree warden today not only monitors for insects and disease problems, but oversees, and often performs, routine maintenance and planning required to keep the community trees in good health and abundance. Although the duties of Maine tree wardens vary widely from town to town, the underlying principle is the same - towns need someone to be responsible for managing the community's forest resources.

     Tree wardens can be municipal staff, from road and parks departments, to town conservation commissioners and town managers. Most often tree wardens are volunteers. Limited budgets often mean that the tree warden performs his or her duties with little or no stipend. Tree wardens range in experience. Some have backgrounds in forestry or arboriculture; others bring their experience in community education and organizing the job. One of the most important characteristics of a successful tree warden is dedication. Recruiting volunteers, developing community programs, learning and teaching others tree care takes time. Tree wardens and potential tree wardens must have the time and desire to take an active role as stewards of community froests.

     Who is your tree warden? If your town does not already have a tree warden, you can elect one. In 1999, state law still reads "the municipal officers which have not appointed conservation commissioners under subchapter II may annually appoint one or more tree wardens to care and control all public shade trees upon and along the highways and in the parks of the municipality and all streets within any village limits (Title 30A, Chapter 155 section 3282)."

     The Role of the Tree Warden:

• Steward and Advocate: Act as a contact for local tree issues. Help protect trees and encourage local projects. Oversee or perform tree work along streets, in parks and in cemeteries. Write grant proposals for planting, educational, and management planning projects (Grants are available from state and national organizations). Promote the planting and care of trees in the community.
• Management Planning: Whether your town tree budget is $500 or $50,000, having a plan will make your money go further. Develop and maintain a tree inventory, a management plan, and a local tree board. Tree wardens can make recommendations to teh local conservation commission or plannig board about development and long-term management of the community forest.
• Outreach and Education: Provide information about local trees. Work with school groups and civic organizations to promote awareness about the value of trees in the community. Sponsor an arbor day event and community tree plantings.
• And More: Each community has specific needs and policies. The tree warden position varies and can serve a wide range of community organizations, schools and citizens.

     The Maine Tree Wardens' Association.

     In 1997, a small group of Maine tree wardens came together to form an organization "to promote awareness and professional care of Maine's community trees." The result was the establishment of the Maine Tree Wardens' Association (MTWA).

     Although still in its infancy, the organization strives to support Maine's tree wardens and to raise public awareness about the need for a visible and active community tree warden program. The goal of the MTWA is to make education and professional development available to local tree wardens through networking with colleagues.

     If you are interested in finding out more or would like to get involved with the maine Tree Wardens' Association, please contact the Maine Forest Service, Community Forestry Program at (207)-287-5024, e-mail at tish.carr@state.me.us, or write to 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME. 04333-0022.

     Thanks to Tish Carr for the content of this page. Freely adapted for the Maine Forest Service newsletter "Trees on Maine Street", Vol. 5, No. 3.

     Click on the link below to view the list of active tree wardens, city arborists and conservation commissioners, listed alphabetically by municipality.

 Maines Tree Wardens