Policies and purposes of urban forestry

A. The Legislature finds and declares that: (1) Trees serve as a vital resource in the urban environment and as an important psychological link with nature for the urban dweller. (2) Trees are a valuable economic asset in our cities. They help maintain or increase property values and attract business and new residents to urban areas. (3) Trees play an important role in energy conservation by the modification of temperature extremes, humidity, and winds. This role is particularly important in reducing the amount of energy consumed in heating and cooling buildings and homes, and potentially producing a local fuel and energy source. (4) Trees directly reduce air pollution by removing airborne particulates from the atmosphere and helping to purify the air. (5) Trees also help reduce noise, provide habitat for songbirds and other wildlife, reduce surface runoff and protect urban water resources, and enhance the aesthetic quality of life in the city. (6) Growing conditions in urban areas for trees and associated plants have worsened so that many Louisiana cities are now losing more trees than are replaced. B. The purpose of this Part is to: (1) Arrest the decline of our urban forest resources, facilitate the planting of trees in the city, and improve the quality of the environment in urban areas. (2) Facilitate the creation of permanent jobs in tree maintenance and related urban forestry activities in neighborhood, local, and regional urban areas. (3) Maximize the potential of tree and vegetative cover in reducing energy consumption and producing fuel and other products. (4) Encourage the coordination of state and local agency activities in urban forestry and related programs and encourage maximum citizen participation in their development and implementation.