City of Largo, Florida

2004 HURRICANE SEASON BOOSTS LARGO'S URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM

Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne raised awareness for the need to have all Florida cities improve the health of existing trees in order to reduce damage from future storms. The State of Florida suffered significant damage to trees and tree cover during the 2004 hurricane season causing the USDA Forest Service to make available Emergency Hurricane Urban and Community Forestry Grant funds. The City of Largo, one of the recipients of a USDA Forest Service/Florida Division of Forestry Grant, was awarded $174,862 and matched the grant with the required 25% or $58,288. Over the three year life cycle of the Florida Division of Forestry's Urban & Community Forestry Grant the City of Largo was able to -

*Assess/inventory/record 4,500 tree sites by GPS (global positioning system) for use in the city tree management software;

*Prune/trim 897 street trees to enhance storm survivability;

*Remove 17 structurally damaged trees that would fail in future storms;

*Plant 301 street trees (Live Oaks, Elms, Tabebuia, Japanese Tree Fern, Bald Cypress, Crape Myrtles) along 1^st and 3^rd Ave. and Rosery Road that will provide shade and sequester 728,420 pounds of carbon throughout the life of the trees;

*Treat 41.66 acres for exotic and nuisance plant species to increase biodiversity in city parks.

The City of Largo is committed to protecting, maintaining and enhancing its existing tree canopy and native species. Approximately 200 trees were either damaged or destroyed during the 2004 hurricane season. These trees have now received the maintenance that they needed thanks to the Urban & Community Forestry Grant and it is the goal of the City of Largo's Urban Forest Master Plan to have a grand total of 5,000 street trees planted over the next five years within the city.