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Tree working group urges Belfast to hire a tree warden, shares city tree inventory
Summary
A volunteer tree working group presented a city street‑tree inventory, flagged many ash and Norway maples as concerns, and urged the council to hire a certified tree warden, create a tree ordinance and pursue Tree City USA designation.
A volunteer tree working group told the Belfast City Council on April 1 that an inventory of street and right‑of‑way trees shows the city needs a permanent arboricultural lead and clearer policy to protect and manage the urban canopy.
The presentation, led by a working‑group representative, reported that the group used iTree/HighTree tools and field crews to map trees within the Route 1 bypass. The inventory counts trees with diameter‑at‑breast‑height greater than 1 inch and—using that threshold—records 617 trees in the surveyed area. The group said many specimens are ash or Norway maple, species the presenters described as either threatened (ash, from emerald ash borer) or invasive (Norway maple).
"We're looking for somebody who could weigh in and really give you good information," the working‑group representative said, recommending that the city hire a contracted tree warden with ISA certification or a Maine‑licensed tree expert to oversee planting, pruning and removal decisions.
The group also asked the council to consider a tree ordinance and to pursue Tree City USA status through the Arbor Day Foundation, steps the presenters said would require a formal ordinance and a modest budget commitment. They offered to provide an executive summary and the inventory data to the city for posting and said they will return with a fuller report in the fall.
Councilors praised the inventory and the volunteer effort. Several members noted the practical advantage of having a single technical point of contact to screen requests for removal and recommend pruning or replacement rather than immediate removal.
The group described short‑term education and outreach plans tied to Arbor Day activities, including tree plantings with schoolchildren and a legacy tree walking map. The presenters also flagged stormwater and climate resilience benefits tied to a healthier urban canopy and said the inventory will help prioritize immediate hazards and long‑term canopy planning.
What’s next: the working group said it will finish a full report later in the year and offered to deliver the inventory layer to the city's GIS for staff use and public access.
