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Forestry and Parks commissions urge restoring Northern Virginia Conservation Trust funding, long-term tree canopy investments and deer management
Summary
Forestry and Parks & Recreation commissioners told county leaders they oppose eliminating funding for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, urged continued investment in tree planting, watering and invasive-species management and supported an ongoing county deer-management program to protect regeneration of urban forests.
Carolina Haines, representing the Forestry and Natural Resources Commission, and a Parks and Recreation representative said the commissions generally support the county manager’s proposed budget items that build the county’s natural capital but object to the proposed elimination of funding for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT).
Haines said NVCT is “the sole land trust in our region” and that cutting its funding is inconsistent with the county’s broader natural-capital commitments. The Forestry and Natural Resources Commission urged the county to preserve long-term funding for invasive-species management and the tree canopy fund, noting that invasive-plant control typically requires an intensive treatment period of three to five years followed by maintenance.
Parks and Recreation commissioners stressed the importance of watering and maintaining newly planted trees so they survive and noted programs such as the nature centers and environmental education are expanding. A Parks and Recreation speaker said the deer-management program is “very cost effective,” citing an example that deer cages cost about $11 each compared with $2 for a tree at planting — evidence the commission used to argue for continued deer management to protect tree regeneration.
Both commissions also expressed concern about staffing: Parks and Recreation asked the board to consider sustaining a forester-equivalent position and other continued staffing to maintain program momentum. They cautioned that volunteer chemical control of invasives is not a full substitute for contracted invasive-plant control.
Ending: The commissions said they will submit formal letters with details and requested that the county maintain base funding for tree canopy, invasive-species management and NVCT support in the upcoming budget.
