Malden tree warden outlines new Tree Steward program, recent cemetery and canopy gains

Chris Rosa, Malden’s cemetery superintendent and tree warden, told the City Council that the city will open enrollment for a new Tree Steward volunteer program and summarized recent grant-funded work at Forestdale Cemetery and across the city. The program will require a minimum volunteer commitment and provide training materials; Rosa said the aim is to get residents engaged in identifying stressed trees, weeding tree pits and helping with watering.

Rosa said the city has planted about 800 shade trees in the past three years (roughly two-thirds public, one-third private), and that he has secured about $665,000 in tree-related grants over the past 2½ years. He said $400,000 in grant awards remain pending and a $475,000 Community Preservation Committee grant will fund masonry repointing work at Forestdale Cemetery, with bids coming in under budget by about $30,000. “We really haven't paid for trees or care in about 2 and a half years,” Rosa said, describing reliance on grant funding and coordination with DPW, the water department, cemetery contractors and volunteers.

Rosa also described invasive pest work and treatments: he identified an emerald ash borer infestation and reported that most ash trees inspected were too far gone but that 13 treated trees remain healthy in a neighborhood park. He said the city purchased a tree care and watering truck funded by an earmark of about $100,000 and celebrated its tenth consecutive Tree City USA designation and a Morton Arboretum Level 2 arboretum registration for Forestdale Cemetery.

Councilors praised the program and asked practical questions about program logistics, maintenance and funding. Councilor McDonald noted canopy coverage estimates and climate benefits: Rosa said the city is at about 16% canopy and his long-term goal is roughly 40%. Councilors asked how many trees were planted last year (Rosa said 668), loss rates (he estimated a roughly 6% loss this year because of salt and drought after a recent 98% success rate) and how residents request plantings (massurbancanopy.org or through Rosa and the Malden forester).

Rosa said he is drafting a new tree ordinance that would raise fines and set mitigation values for illegal removal or damage to trees — noting his current ordinance’s $500 maximum penalty is low compared with replacement/mitigation values for large trees. He described a plan to use size-based mitigation, with an example mitigation value for a very large tree in the tens of thousands of dollars. Councilors stressed that any penalties or mitigation receipts should be directed back to replanting and tree care funds.

Rosa also reported other local projects: Forestdale Cemetery achieved National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat status, and Fellsmere Pond was designated a wildlife habitat after volunteer work and new signage and tackle-recycling stations were installed to stop fishing line entanglement. He said two “pocket forest” projects are in development and that the city has opened about 160 new tree pits this year to support fall plantings. Rosa asked for council feedback on a training manual he drafted under a “Cool Corridors” grant and distributed printed copies and T-shirts to councilors.

Councilors urged attention to tree diversity, protection from construction impacts and clear enforcement language in the forthcoming ordinance. Several councilors credited Rosa with securing grant funds and transforming the city’s tree program by coordinating plantings with street and utility projects, improving resident outreach and building partnerships with state and nonprofit partners.

Rosa said the city will continue to work on ash borer mitigation on Commercial Street, proceed with fall plantings, and finalize the Tree Steward manual after input from state partners.