FOREST STEWARD FIELD GUIDE - GREEN CITY PARTNERSHIPS - Forterra
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FOREST STEWARD FIELD GUIDE GREEN CITY PARTNERSHIPS
Thank you to all the partners who have contributed to the information in this guide, including the City of Seattle for supporting a 2020 update and redesign. Original design by André Mora, modified by Forterra. Illustrations by Joel Kimmel (except for illustrations on pages 8, 10 and 24). For more information, contact greencities@forterra.org or visit forterra.org/service/green-city-partnerships ©2021 Green City Partnerships
Table of
Contents
Introduction
6 Dear Forest Steward
7 Field Guide Purpose
9 Why Green City Partnerships?
Forest Steward Program
11 Being a Forest Steward
13 The Role of a Forest Steward
17 Hosting Volunteer Events
25 Ecological Restoration
27 Tracking Progress (CEDAR)
28 Seasonal Climate Considerations
30 Site-Specific Considerations
33 Access and Safety Considerations
Restoration Phases
35 Phase 1: Invasive Plant Management
51 Phase 2: Planting
65 Phase 3: Plant Establishment
67 Phase 4: Long-Term Stewardship and Maintenance
Appendices
71 Appendix A: Do’s and Don’ts
72 Appendix B: Understanding Soil
74 Appendix C: Calculating Mulch Needs
76 Appendix D: Tips for Creating Tool Lists
78 Appendix E: Estimating Square Footage
79 Appendix F: Wet Area Decision Tree
80 Appendix G: Native Plant List
84 Appendix H: Woody Invasive Plant List
Notes & Contact
85 My Park’s Plants
88 Volunteer & Community Information
90 Important Contact Information
6
DEAR FOREST STEWARD
Welcome to the Green City Partnerships!
The Green Cities Forest Steward Program provides
you the opportunity to be part of one of the largest,
community-based urban forest restoration efforts in
the country. We have an ambitious goal to restore
thousands of acres of forested parklands and natural
areas throughout the region — and with your volunteer
efforts, we can achieve it.
This endeavor benefits both the environment and
local communities. To date, the work of many dedicated
Forest Steward volunteers has been substantial. Green
City staff stand by to assist in making your experi-
ence personally satisfying — and your efforts highly
successful.
While the thought of tackling invasive plants in your
neighborhood park may seem daunting, remember
that you have the unyielding and full support of the
Green City Partnerships. As Forest Stewards, you will
stand shoulder to shoulder with Green City staff, profes-
sional crews, other volunteers and partner organiza-
tions to get the work done. You also play the vital role of
engaging your community — inviting new people into
the urban forest and providing them opportunities to
volunteer in their neighborhood park or natural area.
This Forest Steward Field Guide contains basic, yet
essential information you will need to start and imple-
ment site restoration plans, and track your progress. As
a Forest Steward, you will have opportunities to expand
your forest restoration knowledge and skills by attend-
ing specialized training sessions. In addition, Forest
Stewards may be eligible to receive tools, materials,
plants and crew assistance for your restoration projects.
Thank you for taking the lead to restore, maintain,
and steward our urban forests and natural areas. Your
commitment makes the Puget Sound region an even
better place to live. We look forward to many great
years of cooperation and success!
Sincerely,
The Green City Partnerships
I ntroduction 7 Field Guide Purpose This Field Guide is a quick reference for Forest Steward volunteers on how to get started and proceed with community-based forest restoration at their neighborhood parks and natural areas. It does not have all of the answers to Regulations invasive plant management, community Many of the habitats where we work, engagement, or species selection. including wetlands, are ecologically The best available science drives work important and sensitive. As such, the by the Green City Partnerships and is Green City Partnerships have a respon- reflected within our current program sibility to comply with a variety of state policies. As urban forest restoration is a and local regulations. These regulations relatively young practice, agency staff, are used as the basis to assess potential volunteers and non-profits involved in environmental impacts of our restoration Green City Partnerships have worked program and to issue project require- together to develop and test Best Man- ments that are embedded in the BMPs. agement practices (BMPs) to effectively Working closely with your desig- complete field work and maintain a con- nated city/county staff and following sistent quality of work across all Green established BMPs for volunteer activities City sites. is important to ensuring that restoration On a broad scale, learning and inno- work complies with local, state and fed- vation occurs at restoration sites every eral regulations. day, the results of which are captured in formal documents like this Forest Steward Field Guide. BMPs are updated as new methods are tested and deemed successful. Remember: Your feedback is essential to our continuous learning process.
I ntroduction 9
Why Green
City Partnerships?
Our vision: Improve quality of life, connections to nature, and
enhance forest benefits in cities by restoring 13,000 acres
(as of 2020) of forested parks and natural areas.
The Green City Partnerships was estab- wildlife habitat and mitigated climate
lished to harness the power of our change impacts. Additionally, healthy
communities and create a culture of forests are attractive assets in city
volunteerism and stewardship to protect neighborhoods and provide access to
local forested parks, and maintain a nature all across the city. The Green City
healthy tree canopy. Using best practices Partnerships strive to provide education
developed over the past 15 years, Green and engagement opportunities for all
Cities Partnerships work with municipal- residents, empowers residents to make a
ities and counties to develop achievable positive change in their community, and
goals, longterm land management plans encourages the next generation of Forest
and community-based stewardship pro- Stewards.
grams. Through Green City Partnerships, The Green City Partnerships are
local nonprofits, community groups, committed to creating healthy forested
businesses, government agencies and parklands, supported by long-term com-
neighborhood volunteers all work munity stewardship and the establish-
together to care for their local forest. ment of resources within each city.
We also collaborate with restoration
practitioners studying the latest trends Our Goals
throughout the Pacific Northwest so that
Green Cities remain at the forefront of
knowledge, tools and techniques.
Washington’s landscapes have a his-
1 Restore and maintain the forested
parklands and designated natural
areas within our Green City Partnerships.
tory of logging and urbanization that has
left our natural areas in less than ideal
conditions. Many of these areas have a
canopy of short-lived deciduous trees,
2 Expand and galvanize an informed,
involved, and active commu-
nity around forest restoration and
like red alder and bigleaf maple, and an stewardship.
understory that often is battling aggres-
sive invasive plants. These conditions do
not support the regeneration of a diverse
native forest. Without intervention, we
3 Ensure long-term sustainable fund-
ing and community support.
are at risk of losing the quality forests our In order for the Green City Partner-
cities need. ships to achieve these goals, we utilize
These forests provide a host of volunteers, professional crews, commu-
benefits to our region: cleaner air, nity partners, and staff to advance our
cleaner water, reduced stormwater progress in restoring forested parklands
impacts, reduced erosion, improved and natural areas.
11
Being a Forest
Steward
Forest Stewards are dedicated and trained volunteers who serve
as the backbone of the Green City Partnerships. They build a
community of stewardship around public forested parks and
natural areas to safeguard their future.
Forest Stewards commit to stewarding an identified plan for volunteer work.
a specific Park or natural area in collab-
oration with Green City staff and their • Attend Green Cities training events for
community. ongoing personal development.
• Follow Best Management Practices for
volunteers working at your site.
FOREST STEWARD
RESPONSIBILITIES • Maintain a positive working relation-
AND DUTIES ship with staff, volunteers, donors and
community members.
• Attend a Green Cities Forest Steward
orientation. • Stay in compliance your Green City
background check requirement (if
• Serve as key contact for stewardship applicable).
activities at a park or natural area.
• Follow your Green City’s Volunteer
• Coordinate volunteer forest resto- Code of Conduct.
ration events and activities in your
park; aim for four volunteer events per • Perform work in accordance to City
year (of any size), where appropriate. guidance.
• Manage event postings, material
requests, sign-in sheets and work logs.
• Participate in an annual site-planning
visit with Green City staff to agree on12 B eing a F orest S teward
Green City Partnerships
Volunteer Code of Conduct
1. A
s a volunteer, you represent your Green City Partnership. You must treat the
public, park users, other volunteers, and Green City staff with respect.
2. Threatening or harassing behavior will result in removal from the volunteer
event and could result in expulsion from the park.
3. I ndividuals must not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances
while participating in volunteer activities.
4. S afety is of utmost importance at all times. Take safety seriously and
consider the use of safe work practices for yourself and others as a personal
responsibility.
5. R
ecognize parks as public places. All users have rights to the parks. Volunteer
events are open to the public unless City/County staff have approved a closure
or exclusive event.
6. A
dhere to any specific regulations set forth by your particular City (also
reference Appendix A for further Green Cities ground rules).13
The Role of a
Forest Steward
This section is intended to clarify the role of a Forest
Steward. It will help you get your feet firmly planted
before you start digging in.
Stewardship Plan established, in which
STEPS TO FOLLOW case staff will help you interpret that
plan. Staff will clarify what work volun-
1. Orient yourself teers can perform and identify areas that
Attend a Green City Forest Steward must be left for professional crews, such
orientation. as slopes and areas in need of herbicides.
Site visits will cover the following:
2. Pick a site
To be set up for success, your restoration • The history of any prior forest resto-
site should be: ration work at your site.
• Accessible (to volunteers and for • How to set a timeline for
materials/support) volunteer events.
• Appropriate (for restoration activities • The best area to focus volunteer work
performed by volunteers) in your first year.
• Safe (not too steep or located along • What Best Management Practices
busy streets) (BMPs) to use to work efficiently and
effectively.
• Sturdy (sometimes wetlands or other
sensitive areas are not the best choice • Which plant species exist at
for volunteers) your site.
3. Schedule a site visit • A draft list of tools needed for
Green City staff will help Forest Stew- your work.
ards establish a site plan that identifies
specific goals for ecological resto- 4. Get familiar with your site
ration. Some parks may already have a Explore your site to understand its14 B eing a F orest S teward
ecological conditions, including sun 8. Repeat
exposure, water features, wet conditions Continue with volunteer events, report-
and signs of wildlife. Familiarize yourself ing, and individual work. The work will
with the site’s plant species and soil type change throughout the seasons and over
(Appendix A). time as your site progresses through
the phases of restoration. You will gain
5. Recruit volunteers and experience, expertise and confidence
prepare for your event with each volunteer event. Attend Green
Conduct outreach for your event using City workshops and training opportu-
Green Cities printed materials, social nities. Read up on the latest BMPs, and
media, networking sites, neighborhood utilize Green City staff to help you grow
blogs and word of mouth. Print volun- in your Forest Steward role. Stay con-
teer sign-in sheets and make sure you nected to the Green City Partnerships
have the tools, materials, and snacks you and Forest Steward community through
need to run a successful event. social media, email and Green City
e-newsletters.
6. Host events
Pick up any coffee or snacks before your
event, and plan to arrive early to set up.
Make sure your volunteers all sign in and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
have work gloves. Use the Event Wel-
come and Safety Talk speaking points on Forest Stewards often are the face of
pages 19–21. Thank all volunteers and Green City restoration efforts. You will
celebrate the work accomplished. Clean interact with volunteers, Green City staff,
and put away tools, and have volunteers park users and the broader commu-
brush their boots and shoes. nity. Some of the types of community
engagement tools that may be available
7. Follow up to you as a Forest Steward include:
For each event you host, be sure to
submit a work log and volunteer sign-in EVENT CALENDARS Green City staff
sheet as soon as possible. If you are have the ability to post events to a
working independently, please record variety of event calendars, including For-
and submit hours regularly. Timely terra’s event calendar, Green City specific
submission of work logs and volunteer calendars and other local calendars. Be
sign-in sheets is important for tracking sure to connect with your Green City
and reporting monthly progress, and staff for additional help publicizing your
demonstrating this progress is key to events.
attracting the financial, political and vol-
unteer support necessary to sustain the PARK H-STAKE SIGNS These temporary
program into the future. You can also corrugated plastic signs let park
send personalized emails to volunteers users know a little bit about what is
to thank them and invite them to your going on at your park or natural area,
next event. and invite readers to participate in aB eing a F orest S teward 15
volunteer event or contact you about Planning Youth Events
your restoration project. • A supervisor-to-youth ratio of 1:5 to
1:7 is recommended. Supervisors can
K IOSK SIGNS Some parks have kiosks be other Forest Stewards, teachers or
that are available to you to publicize parent chaperones.
information about your restoration
project or invite community members • Prepare age-appropriate tasks for
to an event. youth volunteers. Plan multiple tasks
for a volunteer event so that you can
G REEN CITIES SOCIAL MEDIA If you be flexible if something isn’t working
have a special event or an event you out well.
want to highlight on Green City social
media streams, be sure to contact • Provide appropriate-sized tools and
your Green City staff to help publicize equipment for youth volunteers.
your event.
• Be prepared to provide snacks, or
arrange in advance for volunteers to
bring their own snacks.
YOUTH AND STUDENT
ENGAGEMENT • Youth (under 18 years old) attending
a regular volunteer event on their
The Green City Partnerships have a own need to be signed in by a parent
specific goal to engage youth in forest or guardian or bring a signed youth
restoration efforts and train the next waiver form with them.
generation of Forest Stewards. You can
help us reach that goal in a number of • Students attending a volunteer event
ways: with their school or with an organized
group may have their own youth
• Make your events family- and waiver forms. In this case, the teacher
kid-friendly. or group leader is considered the
guardian and the youth can sign-in
• Connect with teachers and administra- like normal. Make sure all teachers,
tors at schools nearby your park. leaders and chaperones also sign in.
• Advertise your events as a way for Event Logistics
middle and high school students to • Give older kids a chance to help lead
earn community service hours that younger kids.
many schools require.
• Be mindful of event length. One-hour
• Connect youth working at your volunteer events are typical for ele-
site with Green City youth leadership mentary school students.
opportunities
• Celebrate work accomplished and16 B eing a F orest S teward
lessons learned. Ask youth volun- Today, you are joining the
teers to identify one thing that they Green Partnership to work
accomplished or learned during their at Park.
work time.
Who here has a favorite park?
Fun and Games (Expect answers related to soccer fields,
PAIRS PLANTING Have students work spray parks, playgrounds, etc.) This park
in teams of two for planting. Have them is a little bit different. Instead of soccer
identify their plant species with ID cards fields and jungle gyms, this park is meant
(if available) and make a mulch donut. to be a forest.
FRIENDLY COMPETITION Have students Who knows why healthy forests
compete to remove the largest black- are important for a city?
berry root ball, create the largest com- Answers: They absorb and filter rain
post pile, or pull the longest strand of ivy. water in a totally natural way. — They
absorb pollution in the air and provide
SCAVENGER HUNT Select three to fresh clean oxygen. — “Take a deep
five leaves, berries, bugs or other items breath in! Thank you, trees!” — They pro-
from your park and encourage the youth vide a living space for wildlife, like birds,
to find them throughout the event. and a place for people to connect with
nature and the outdoors.
BIRD OR NATURE WALK Take a break
from the work and walk through the park To improve the health of all of that
with the youth, pointing out interest- forested land, we need the help of
ing features like nurse logs, snags, bird everyone in the city, “including young
nests, animals, special plants and human people just like you!”
impacts.
Green City Partnerships bring together
MATH SKILLS Engage youth in reporting people like you and me to extend
by having them measure newly mulched the life of our forests so that you can
areas, tally up plantings and ivy rings, or enjoy them for many years to come,
estimate the size of weeded areas. maybe with your own children and
grandchildren.
GREEN CITIES INTRODUCTION
FOR YOUTH AND STUDENTS BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT
Here is an example of a script that can Local businesses can help build your
help you engage and inspire the youth volunteer base, promote a healthier and
and students who have arrived to volun- cleaner forest, coordinate group volun-
teer at your Green City work site. teer efforts and provide donations for
your restoration events:
For additional activities and educational lessons for youth,
visit the Washington Native Plant Society resource page at
WNPS.ORG/EDUCATION/RESOURCES/INDEX.HTMLB eing a F orest S teward 17
• Invite local businesses or business • Reducing barriers to participation in
associations to volunteer at your Green Cities programming for under-
restoration site. represented groups. Examples of this
may include providing food when
• Ask local businesses if you can possible, diversifying when events are
advertise your neighborhood event held, adding a stipend for participa-
at their location. tion when possible, etc.
• Partner with local businesses to VOLUNTEER EVENTS
provide in-kind donations for your vol-
unteer events, such as coffee, donuts As a Forest Steward, you should commit
or healthy snacks. to holding at least four events per year,
if appropriate. Volunteers can help with
• Review a guide for engaging your all four phases of restoration — from
local business community and utilize the initial removal of invasive plants to
your Green City’s outreach materials watering and maintaining plants.
Volunteer events vary in size, from
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE a small group of neighbors to a larger
INITIATIVES corporate outing. Forest Stewards should
submit an event request at least three
The Green City Partnerships have set weeks in advance. This is to ensure that
goals for volunteer participation that there are no conflicting events in the
represents each City’s race/ethnicity park, and to allow Green City staff to
demographic as a whole. To measure our better direct interested volunteers to
progress toward this goal, Green Cities your event and provide enough time to
may ask for voluntary anonymous demo- coordinate the necessary resources.
graphic information of volunteers when Forest Stewards are also encouraged
they register online or attend an event, to do additional outreach to recruit
which includes race/ethnicity. Forest enough volunteers for a successful
Stewards may get questions about these event. Each Green City has created
demographic surveys. View them as your outreach materials that are available to
opportunity to explain the racial equity Forest Stewards, and can be requested
goal for the program. by reaching out to Green City staff.
In addition to collecting demographic Volunteer events are a great way to
data at Green City volunteer events, the get work done in the forest, but they
Green City Partnerships are working on also serve as important opportunities
other ways to meet the goals of larger to get people outside and connected to
Race and Social Justice Initiatives, includ- their local parks and natural areas. Forest
ing but not limited to: Stewards can provide a fun and reward-
ing experience for residents by being
• Building individual and programmatic organized, friendly, prepared, and appre-
knowledge of institutional racism by ciative. To set up a successful volunteer
hosting at least one annual Forest event, prepare to have enough work
Steward training that focuses on the and enough event leads for volunteers
topic. to get the instruction they need to do
meaningful work. Suggested work group
sizes are 10 to 15 for adults and five to18 B eing a F orest S teward
THE 10 seven for youth and student groups.
ESSENTIALS OF Each group should have a knowledge-
able leader, who can be another Forest
A VOLUNTEER Steward or an experienced volunteer.
EVENT Green City staff and professional crews
are available to help lead larger events,
as long as enough advance notice is
provided. Please contact your Green City
staff to request volunteer-event support.
1 Volunteers! If you cannot accommodate an inter-
ested volunteer group, please ask Green
2 Restoration materials: City staff for assistance or direct the
plants, mulch, etc. requester to another scheduled Green
City event.
3 Tools and work gloves
4 Garbage bags for trash
and, if needed, as BE PREPARED
makeshift rain ponchos
5 Signs for posting at park
entrance and sign-in table
1 At least three weeks in advance of
your volunteer event, identify what
work volunteers will be doing — and
where. Considerations include:
6 Sign-in materials:
volunteer sign-in sheet, ACCESS TO AMENITIES Is the work site
extra youth waiver forms, close to parking and restrooms? Will the
clipboards, pens, etc. restrooms be open for your event?
7 Program and site SAFETY Is the site too steep for volun-
information: your site plan, teers? Are there other site hazards that
Green City brochures, dates could impact negatively the volunteer
for subsequent events, etc. experience, such as overhead dead
trees, active bees nests, high traffic areas
8 Work plan: clear goal of (bikes/runners)?
restoration work for the
day KILL/EXPERIENCE LEVEL Is this work
S
appropriate for the skill level that volun-
9 Safety resources: teers will have?
first-aid kit, cell phone,
nearby hospital or clinic UCCESS Is the work plan something
S
information that could be accomplished in a single
event and provide a feeling of success?
10 Water, coffee and snacks
S EASONALLY APPROPRIATE WORK
Is the work appropriate for the season?
For example, is it the most opportune
time to work in wet areas, install new
native plants, work in brushy areas whereB eing a F orest S teward 19
birds nest? Consult the Green Cities at the park entrance so volunteers can
Seasonal calendar on pages 28–29 to get locate your site easily.
an idea of what activities are appropriate
for the time of year. • Set out and count tools.
E VENT LEADERS Are there enough • Set out the sign-in sheet.
knowledgeable leaders to support a
larger volunteer event? • Make sure any co-Stewards or lead
volunteers know the agenda and work
2 Create a list of tools and materials
for your event to ensure that you
have the right resources to accommo-
plan for the day.
2. Event welcome
date your volunteers and get the work Feel free to customize or adapt these
done. Request any materials, sani-cans, talking points as you get more comfort-
or extra tools at least three weeks in able leading volunteer events.
advance. If plants are needed for your
event, additional lead time may be I ntroduce yourself and other Forest
required for procurement. Learn more Stewards and/or Green City staff
about creating a tool list in Appendix D. present.
3 Conduct outreach to recruit volun-
teers and encourage online registra-
tion for the event.
Thank everyone for donating
their time.
Explain why it is so important that
people are participating
— Healthy forests provide many ben-
HOSTING YOUR EVENT efits including improved water and
air quality, reduction in stormwater
As a volunteer event leader, the Forest runoff, habitat and improved public
Steward’s main jobs during the volunteer health.
event are to explain to the volunteers
how the work impacts the forest, teach — Forest restoration work parties help
volunteers how to do the work, monitor bring together communities, promote
work quality, and ensure that volun- healthy living and make the park look
teers are working safely and enjoying better.
their time. It will be tempting to dig in
and do the work yourself, but a better — Reference the number of acres
investment of your time is to make sure of forested parkland and natural
all volunteers are doing quality work. areas included in your Green City
Follow these steps to ensure you cover Partnership.
all important points.
— “ These forests need our help!” Many
1. Prepare for volunteers are dominated by relatively short-lived
• Be onsite and ready 15 to 30 minutes trees, such as red alder and bigleaf
before volunteers are scheduled to maple. The forest floor is being taken
arrive. over by weeds like English ivy and
Himalayan blackberry. These condi-
• Make sure adequate signage is posted tions are preventing the native forest20 B eing a F orest S teward
from regenerating and creating a for- 3. Safety talk
est that is sustainable and long-lived. Set the tone for safety
•
“While we are working today, our main
E xplain the Green City Partnerships goals are to be safe, have fun and get
“ The Green City Partnerships are a some good work done —
region-wide effort that includes City in that order.”
staff, Forest Stewards like myself, many
nonprofit partners, and residents General safety reminders
like you working together to restore •
“If you haven’t already signed in,
forested parklands and natural areas.” please do so now.” (Pass around a
(Consider providing a longer explana- clipboard, if needed.)
tion regarding your specific Green City
Partnership). •
Let volunteers know that you have a
first-aid kit and tell them where it can
Acknowledge tribal history be found.
Please use your City’s adopted land
acknowledgment, or utilize the land •
Tell volunteers that they can always
acknowledgment below if your City does call 911 for emergencies. If other
not use one. issues arise, ask them to find you. Also
“We gather and live on the plains, share that you have copies of incident
plateaus, mountains, and coastal lands and accident forms with you on site
that have been home to indigenous and share where they can be found.
peoples since time immemorial. We
respect their indigenous and tribal Tool safety
treaty rights, and honor their culture • Introduce what tools you are using,
today.” addressing all aspects of CUSS (Carry,
Use, Safety, Storage) for each tool.
Introduce your project
— Give an introduction to your specific • Remind volunteers to keep track of
park. tools and to return them to an iden-
— Touch on the history of the restoration tified area before switching to a new
and your long-term work plan. tool.
— If your group is appropriately sized,
have volunteers introduce themselves. • Remind everyone that they should
always be wearing work gloves, which
Explain today’s activities you are providing, while handling
— Today we are going to be: tools.
— Our schedule is going to be:
— Bathrooms are located: Activity and environmental concerns
— Water and snacks are located: • Warn against heavy lifting.
•
Explain that no work is to be con-
ducted on steep slopes, or even
moderate slopes.B eing a F orest S teward 21
•
If your event is close to a road, inform •
Proper planting techniques
volunteers that they must be wearing
safety vests and no one should be After you demonstrate, ask if anyone has
working in the road. questions.
•
Welcome water breaks and rest in the 5. Final pre-work reminders
shade. •
Identify event leads one more time.
•
Be aware of ground nesting bees, and •
“If you have any questions while we
recommend that if volunteers get are working today, please feel free to
stung, they should run far and fast to ask us. We will be walking around to
escape other stinging bees. Ask volun- be available to help you.”
teers to identify (to the group or event
lead) if they have a bee sting allergy. •
“If you have any general forest- or
park-related questions, let us know
•
Remind volunteers to not pick up and we will do our best to answer
items from the work site that could be them.”
personal belongings (tents, clothes,
etc.). Remind volunteers to never •
Break up into work groups (as the last
pick up needles or syringes; notify step or before the safety talk, depend-
the event lead so that the area can be ing on your group size).
flagged off and reported to Green City
staff. 6. Other considerations
during the event
• Identify known areas of noxious weed •
Check in with volunteers to make sure
infestations that should be avoided, they feel comfortable with the tools
or if you are working in those areas, and the day’s tasks.
explain the need to clean boots,
clothes, and tools before leaving •
Redirect volunteers to a different
the area. Show the location of boot task if they request a change or you
brushes and explain how and why to observe that one may be necessary.
use them.
•
Remember that you are there to
4. Demonstrate Best facilitate the event, not do all the work
Management Practices yourself.
Demonstrate how you want volunteers
to perform restoration work, including: •
Keep your volunteers busy and make
them feel useful.
•
Identification of invasive plants
•
Thank everyone sincerely and often.
•
Proper invasive plant removal
techniques 7. Event Wrap-up
• Wrap up your event a few minutes
•
Compost pile building early so that you can have volunteers
help with clean up, gather them
together, and formally conclude by
the posted time.22 B eing a F orest S teward
• Have volunteers return tools for count- . Finalize event sign-in sheet
1
ing and cleaning. Confirm volunteer attendance and hours
on your event sign-in sheet. Submit
• Have volunteers brush tools and their sign-in sheets to Green City staff or enter
personal footwear. (See sidebar on them in to your Green City’s data portal
page 23.) if applicable.
• Thank volunteers for their time 2. Fill out event work log
and efforts. Calculate quantifiable work from the
event and submit to your Green City
• Ask volunteers for something they staff or in your program’s data portal if
learned or enjoyed at the event. applicable. Be equipped to take notes
during the event. The key metrics to be
• Tell volunteers what their accom- recorded are:
plished impacts were today (example:
200 square feet of ivy removed, 5 — Number of volunteers
yards of mulch spread). — Number of volunteer hours
— Invasive species removed (check list)
• Share other opportunities for volun- — Number of ivy survival rings
teers to stay involved (provide the — Area (in square feet) of first-time
date and time of the next event or invasive plant removal
reference your Green City Partnership — Area (in square feet) of weeding
website to help out at other parks). — Plants installed (by category and
stock type, not species)
• Take a group photo that you can send — Area (in square feet) of mulch spread
out with the follow-up “thank you” — Plants watered
email.
Individual Volunteer
• Tell the group how they can stay Time and Work
involved with your project and other Your work and time contributed to
Green City events. park restoration outside of volunteer
events can be captured in an individual
work log. Please record your hours that
contribute indirectly to the work on the
REPORTING ground such as: attending site visits,
conducting outreach, or whatever you
Reporting citywide forest restoration do to keep things running smooth at the
progress is absolutely essential for gain- park. The individual work log can only be
ing political will and financial support, used for reporting work for yourself, not
and for adapting practices to ensure an for your volunteers’ work or time. You can
ongoing successful program. submit an individual work log after every
trip to the park, or lump work and hours
Event Hours and Work Logs together at an interval that works best
After each event, it is important to for you, such as weekly, monthly, or even
finalize the following event data via work annually.
logs and entering information in to your
Green City’s data portal if applicable.B eing a F orest S teward 23
Accidents
If you or any volunteers sustain an injury
while working in the park, complete an
accident report form and ensure that
the injured volunteer is signed in on the
sign-in sheet. If your Green City does not
have a formal accident report form, or if
you do not have a copy of an accident
report form with you in the park, take
down the contact information of the Tool and
injured volunteer and procure details Boot Brushing
after the event. Please contact your
Green City staff for the appropriate acci-
The seeds of troublesome weeds are
dent reporting forms and protocols.
traveling to different restoration sites
on tools, boots and clothing. To avoid
Incidents making infestations worse or spreading
If you encounter an item, person, or sit- them to new parks, please have your
uation in the park that you think should volunteers use the boot and tool
be reported — for example, an alterca- brushes provided by your Green City. To
tion with a park user, the discovery of reduce the potential for moving weeds,
something suspicious or dangerous or soil and seeds on boots or clothing:
vandalism — fill out an incident report
form. This is not in lieu of a police report, • C lean soil from tools while still on
site using a stiff brush or gloves
but it does document the occurrence for
in a designated decontamination
Green City staff and can be used to ana- area. Plan time into your event
lyze patterns or trends. Please contact schedule to accomplish this with
your Green City staff for the appropriate volunteers.
incident reporting forms and protocols.
• Remove plants and mud from
boots before entering the site,
using a stiff brush.
• Before leaving site, remove plants
and mud from boots with a stiff
brush, and consider spraying
down with water if available.
• Limit access to designated
noxious weed areas during
volunteer events.24
B eing a F orest S teward 25
Ecological
Restoration
Ecological restoration is the practice PHASE 3 Focuses on native plant estab-
of renewing and restoring degraded, lishment. Sites are weeded, mulched,
damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and and watered as needed. Some sites may
habitats in the environment through stay in Phase 3 for several years to man-
human intervention and action. The age invasive plant regrowth and wait for
goal behind restoration is to improve new plantings to grow.
the health, productivity, and species
diversity of an ecosystem, through such PHASE 4 Focuses on long-term steward-
acts as planting native species, removing ship and maintenance, which includes
invasive species, and bringing back natu- monitoring for new populations of inva-
ral processes to a damaged, degraded, or sive plants, social use impacts and other
destroyed ecosystem. ecosystem health indicators.
It is important to remember that all lands While most forest areas will need all four
were stewarded long before us by Indig- phases of restoration, some with low
enous Peoples since time immemorial. It levels of invasive plants may only need
wasn’t until colonization and industrial- a quick Phase 1 sweep to prepare the
ization that our natural world began to site for Phase 2. If a healthy native plant
face unique challenges not encountered community already exists, the site may
before. graduate quickly to Phase 3 or Phase 4.
The history of logging, the presence Considering Climate Change
of invasive plants and urban pressures Green Cities is well-positioned to help
have guided the Green City Partnerships move forward a variety of climate
in the development of a four-phase change resistance and resilience actions.
approach to ecological restoration. This Green City restoration efforts are essen-
approach captures the key actions for tial to preserve forest and natural-area
restoring urban natural areas in the health, and ensure the critical ecosystem
Puget Sound area. Additionally, this functions these resources provide, such
breakdown of phases aids our ability to as reducing urban-heat-island effects,
monitor progress and develop site-spe- sequestering carbon, and mitigating
cific management strategies. stormwater impacts from increased
precipitation. To improve the ability of
PHASE 1 Focuses on removing invasive forests and natural areas to mitigate as
plants for the first time. well as adapt to climate-change stress-
ors, Green City staff will need to integrate
PHASE 2 Focuses on the planting adaptation and resilience strategies
of native trees, shrubs and groundcovers. into general management practices and26 B eing a F orest S teward park-specific stewardship plans. It is a priority of the Green City Partnerships to use the best available science to inform site planting lists and restoration activi- ties so that our restoration sites are best adapted to the impending impacts of climate change. GREEN CITIES MAPPING Each park or natural area that the Green City Partnerships identify for ecolog- ical restoration are broken down into management units, also referred to as zones. These units are various sizes but generally share site characteristics, and are helpful for tracking your restoration progress. Contact your Green City staff to access up-to-date maps for your park or natural area. GETTING TO PHASE 4 Once work on the ground begins, Green Cities records what restoration work has occurred and calculates progress. Prog- ress happens as zones move through the four phases of restoration and as zones transform into the identified Target Eco- system. Zones are moved into Phase 4 after Green City staff perform a verifica- tion process that ensures the full zone is on a trajectory toward Target Ecosystem goals.
B eing a F orest S teward 27
Tracking Progress
Work Logs: What restoration work refining effective strategies to remove
is happening on the ground? and control invasive plants and keep
Your restoration project story is told newly planted natives healthy. Planting
through the logging of information on refinement may need to occur if areas
what work has been done in the park change due to climate, development, or
— and where. A work log quantifies other conditions.
how much volunteer and/or crew time To monitor fieldwork, new acres will
has been contributed in a given area, be tracked as they are brought into
and the work completed. Work logs are active restoration and mapped in GIS.
submitted directly to Green City staff or Volunteer and skilled field crew time will
through your Green City’s data portal if be devoted to revisiting sites that have
applicable. been previously worked on and assess-
The data can be used to analyze and ing their ongoing needs as they move
evaluate volunteer attendance, reten- through the four phases of restoration.
tion, and basic demographic information One component of monitoring is to track
to measure program effectiveness and plant survival rates, as forests and natural
reach. Field-based metrics, recorded areas will always be subject to pressure
by park location and zone, will also be from their surroundings. Although the
collected, such as the area and types of work needed decreases dramatically
invasive plants removed, acres enrolled each year that an area goes through the
in restoration, the number of plants program, Phase 4 of restoration contin-
installed and watered, and the area ues indefinitely.
mulched and maintained. The Partner-
ship will share successes and lessons The Long View: How should I plan
learned, celebrate progress, and evaluate annually?
effectiveness. Forest restoration is so much more than
just a large-scale weeding effort. Forest
Forest Monitoring: How is this Stewards take time to plan out the
natural area progressing over entire restoration cycle, identifying and
time? accounting for any site-specific con-
As the field program proceeds, the Part- siderations before work on the ground
nership will continue to conduct routine begins. We even have an annual plan-
monitoring of planting and restoration ning booklet written specifically for For-
sites to track their condition and health, est Stewards, which can be found at FOR-
and gauge progress. On forested land, TERRA.ORG/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2015/05/
success will rely on developing and STEWARD-ANNUAL-PLAN-WORKBOOK.PDF.28 B eing a F orest S teward Seasonal Considerations Although enjoying a generally mild climate year-round, the Puget Sound’s four distinct seasons dictate appropriate and efficient timing for urban forest restoration activities. This guide outlines basic forest restoration considerations and recommendations for each of the four seasons.
B eing a F orest S teward 29
WINTER SPRING
I nvasive plant removal is easiest Invasive plant removal is easiest
in damp soils. in damp soils.
I f invasive plant removal results in Maintenance weeding in
large amount of bare soils, cover planted areas.
with mulch or organic debris.
Avoid removing brushy invasive
ative plant installation should
N plants from April to July to respect
be wrapped up by March. nesting birds.
L ive stake plant propagation Wetland species can be planted
and installation. in wet areas after flooding has
receded (April to June).
atch for early bird nesting and
W
avoid working in areas of high lan for fall planting by identifying
P
avian nesting activity. planting location and organizing a
species list.
Submit herbicide requests
for applicable invasive species
for summer treatment.
SUMMER FALL
Remove invasive plants. Remove invasive plants.
Break down dried-up I f invasive plant removal results in
compost piles. large amount of bare soils, cover
with mulch or organic debris.
Water plants if available and/or
appropriate (May to September). Plants that will be installed in
saturated or seasonally wet sites
Professional crews conduct should be planted in September
herbicide treatment. to October or March to April,
outside of the wet season as
Restoration pruning occurs much as possible.
(mid-July to September).
I nstall native plants once rain
is regularly falling (October
to March).30 B eing a F orest S teward
Site-Specific
Considerations
In addition to seasonal climate, there are restoration areas. Use the nesting
additional site-specific considerations to diagram for ideas of where to look for
factor into restoration planning in order nesting activity at your park.
to accommodate wildlife, people/volun-
teers, safety and wetlands. • Avoid clearing work or large events
in high value nesting areas from
April 15 to July 31.
WILDLIFE HABITAT • Avoid leaving sites barren for
extended periods. Limit clearing
Once the forests are restored, they will work to areas where you can ensure
provide superior habitat to invaded replanting and establishment.
ecosystems. While sites are in the process
of restoration, it is important to plan • Minimize long periods of disrup-
activities with the needs of wildlife in tion to riparian areas and wetlands
mind, including birds, insects, mammals, and their buffers as much as possi-
salmon and more. Below are some sug- ble, as these areas are widely used
gestions for keeping particular wildlife in by wildlife.
mind while you restore your site, noting
that your sites will contribute to habitat • Leave snags and other habitat
for all wildlife, and considerations are not structures on site. Do not cut down
limited to the ones mentioned below. invasive trees.
• Consider continuity between resto-
ration sites to allow for safe travel
BIRD HABITAT between populations.
Here are some suggestions for improving • Spend time with a bird expert to get
bird habitat while also being respectful familiar with local species. Local Audu-
of the current habitat: bon Society chapters are a great place
to access experts to contact.
• Spend time getting to know your site
during nesting season. Come before a • Select plant species for your site
volunteer event to look and listen for that optimize both habitat and food
bird nesting activities. Become familiar sources for birds.
with the birds that are nesting in your
For more information on bird habitat considerations, look for resources from
your local Audubon chapter.1
4
6
3
2
5
9
8
7 10
BIRD NESTS
Look for … 1. Woodpecker nests in snags. 2. Pacific wren nests in log and stump crevices. 3. Spotted towhee
nests on open ground under shrubs. 4. Songbird nests in healthy tree branches; chickadee and brown creeper
nests in the crevices of trees. 5. Spotted towhees and Pacific wren nests in compost piles. 6. Robin, house finch
and barn swallow nests under eaves. 7. Kingfisher nests in streambanks. 8. Barn swallow nests in culverts. 9.
Killdeer nests in open gravel. 10. Hummingbird and warbler nests in shrub branches.
• Leave it messy! Dead wood, leaf
POLLINATOR HABITAT debris, rocks, and compost piles
are all structural and nutrient
Pollinators need safe places for nesting, resources for a rich and diverse
laying eggs, and overwintering, ideally insect paradise. Dead wood
located within 300 feet of a food source. includes standing dead trees,
Green City forest restoration efforts can downed logs, stumps, root wads,
provide quality habitat for native pollina- log rounds, untreated lumber,
tors with careful consideration: and chunks of bark. Place large wood
For more information on pollinator habitat, visit EarthCorps’ Native Pollinator
Habitat Restoration Guide at EARTHCORPS.ORG/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/
THE-NATIVE-POLLINATOR-HABITAT-RESTORATION-GUIDE-EARTHCORPS.PDF32 B eing a F orest S teward
in the shade and let fungus go to restoration planning and implementa-
work on it. Holes, peeling bark, or bits tion appropriately:
of wood may be utilized as lodging
or housing materials by butterflies, • If there is a year-round wet area in
beetles and bees. the restoration site, limit volunteer
involvement to small events of 10
• Compost or brush piles are great or fewer people. If the wet area is
nest sites for bumble bees. If you seasonal, regular to large events
need to flip a compost pile to pull are permitted when the site is dry.
out invasive weeds underneath it,
first examine it for signs of active • If possible, try to work at the driest
bee nesting and try not to disturb if time of year.
bee activity is observed.
• If a Stewardship trail skirts or
• Rocks provide safe and dark spaces for passes through a wet area, planks
all kinds of invertebrates. Piles of rocks or duck boards should be used to
can provide overwinter refuge and minimize impacts to the soils.
cover for butterflies and bumble bees.
• Adjust planting timing to install
• Spots of bare, undisturbed ground native plants in the shoulder sea-
allow ground-nesting bees to make a son (often early fall or late spring)
home. They need a few spots that are when soils are damp or wet, but not
not vegetated and not mulched, even saturated or with standing water.
better if they are sunny and gently Native plants installed in standing
sloped. Well-draining soils that are water could float out of their plant-
sandy or loamy are preferred. ing hole.
• Take care with soils. Excessive social • Do not place compost piles in areas
trails, tillage, compaction and digging that become wet or saturated or
can disrupt pollinator nest sites. within the flood zone.
WETLANDS, WET AREAS, AND STEEP SLOPES
RIPARIAN HABITAT
For safety reasons, volunteers can work
Work with Green City staff for resources only on relatively flat terrain, with even
on identifying any designated wet- professional crews needing special
lands, wet areas, or riparian habitat at equipment for very steep work. As a
your site. You also can use the wet area general rule, work on slopes steeper than
decision tree in Appendix F to see if site a 40% grade requires additional profes-
conditions are consistent with a wet- sional resources. Consult with Green City
land or wet area. If a site has wetland staff to identify any areas within your site
conditions, or if any rivers or streams that are too steep for volunteers, and to
run through your site, please adjust create a work plan for how restoration
of these areas will be addressed with
professional crew support.B eing a F orest S teward 33
Access and Safety
Considerations
ACCESS PATHS CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Stewardship access paths create access (CPTED)
to restoration sites. Not all Green City res-
toration sites have official trails to move CPTED is an approach to deter crime
volunteers and materials to and through that was developed for the urban built
sites. In those cases, access paths need to environment. Based on the principle of
be carefully planned and laid out, taking designing spaces that reduce the oppor-
into account disturbances that foot traf- tunity and desirability for criminal acts,
fic will have on your restoration site. effectively applied CPTED principles can
also make spaces feel more comfortable
• Access paths should travel through and safe to park users. With thoughtful
the center of restoration areas, not planting, intentional pruning, and careful
adjacent to them. weed removal, these principles also can
be applied to managed natural areas.
• These paths often are inviting for See page 54 and 56 for CPTED consid-
other parks users. In fact, many erations related to plant selection and
people consider them a perma- placement, and pages 65–66 for CPTED
nent park feature. To discourage considerations for restoration pruning in
use, keep paths discrete and close the plant establishment section.
access points by pulling brush Your restoration goal is to preserve
across entrances when not in use. the naturalistic character of the
urban forest while also providing
• Stewardship access paths are for personal safety for all park users.
temporary access only. Once a site CPTED guidelines are as follows:
is in maintenance, trails should be
replanted and naturalized. TREES WITH HIGH CANOPY
High branching structure allows for
clear sight lines, which are associated
with a greater sense of safety and
allow for visibility in and out of the
park and to and from trails.
VIEW CORRIDORS Open sight lines
provide the ability to see and be seen at
many entry points and along trails.34 B eing a F orest S teward
VEGETATION WITH TRANSPARENCY
Plantings that are open and composed
of plants with varied heights will allow
for visibility through the vegetation and
reduce opportunities for concealment.
WELL-MAINTAINED SET TINGS A
more intentional level of care for trails,
entrances, and critical locations not only
helps manage vegetation, but also pres-
ents a sense of continuous community
attention and oversight that can deter
crime.
C OMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP Involving
and engaging the community in forest
stewardship provides increased oppor-
tunities for surveillance and provides a
more maintained setting.
For more information on the CPTED, visit FORTERRA.ORG/WP-CONTENT/
UPLOADS/2020/12/CPTED-IN-NATURAL-AREAS-FEB-2018_WEB.PDF35
Phase 1
Invasive Plant
Management
Phase 1 focuses on removing invasive plants for the first time.
Invasive plants require thoughtful
management strategies. Integrated MANUAL REMOVAL
Pest Management (IPM) should be
used to help decide and develop your Manual removal techniques can be very
approach for reducing invasive plants effective and may be applied to invasive
at your site. IPM options consider shrubs, vines, and herbs. Here are some
weed biology, site conditions, and considerations for manual removal:
anticipated labor capacity.
In some cases, using volunteers to • Take into account habitat consid-
remove invasive plants will work great. erations when planning the size of
Some plant species and populations, clearing goals. In some cases, leave
however, may require herbicide treat- a portion of the invasive plants in
ment that requires a professional crew place until the new native plants
to perform. Over several years, multiple are established.
methods of invasive plant removal often
will be used. The Green City Partnerships • Removal often causes soil disturbance.
are committed to using non-herbicide Make plans for covering bare soils
strategies whenever possible and strictly before starting.
follow best management strategies.
• Place flagging around the perimeter
of the work area to identify where vol-
unteers should work (called “clearing
limits”) to avoid impacting sensitive36 P hase 1
areas, especially during larger volun- When deciding if an invasive plant
teer events. infestation can reasonably be
removed manually, weigh the full
• Hand pulling is most appropriate impacts of manual removal against
for small herbaceous plants and other methods. These impacts
some vines, while hand tools can include:
help with shrub and vine removal.
• Soil disturbance.
• Use tools of an appropriate size for the
job to avoid stress on your hands and • The potential for scattered plant
the tools. Stem-cutting tools include fragments to re-sprout.
hand-pruners for stems of less than 1
inch in diameter, loppers for stems of 1 • The risk for composted materials to
to 2 inches in diameter, and handsaws re-sprout in new locations.
for stems of more than 2 inches in
diameter. Root-removal tools include • Impacts from dragging and hauling
hand tillers for herbaceous plants, and vegetative material across a site.
large picks, shovels, and Pullerbear™
(formerly called Weed Wrenches) for • The potential for increasing sedi-
shrub roots, tree roots, and rhizomes ments in nearby water.
(creeping rootstalks).
• Impacts to wildlife.
• Be sure to maintain a safe distance
of at least 10 feet between volun-
teers when they are using tools.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
• Demonstrate to volunteers the
proper ergonomic use of tools. In some instances, herbicide use is our
best tool to control a given plant species
• Avoid pulling non-target plants. or population. Forest Stewards and
Spend time helping volunteers with volunteers never are allowed to do any
plant identification during your herbicide application. Instead, Forest
work event. Stewards can request professional crew
support from their Green City staff, who
• Consider assigning one species for will review requests and coordinate any
removal so that volunteers who are work that may come from it.
not as familiar with plant identification
can become experts in identifying and
controlling a specific plant species.You can also read
