Education | Savannah Tree Foundation https://savannahtree.org Savannah Tree Foundation protects and grows Chatham County's urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy. Thu, 10 Apr 2025 22:42:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-STF_site-icon_lighter-32x32.png Education | Savannah Tree Foundation https://savannahtree.org 32 32 State of the Trees 2024 https://savannahtree.org/state-of-the-trees-2024/ Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:21:43 +0000 https://savannahtree.org/?p=236704

2024 State of the Trees

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024 State of the Trees forum on December 16th. And thank you to our host, Georgia Tech Savannah, as well as our speakers:

Tony Giarrusso, Georgia Tech

Jake Henry, Chatham County

Scott DeArmey, City of Savannah

Zoe Rinker, Savannah Tree Foundation

Below you’ll find slides and links from each of the presentations.

 

RECORDING COMING SOON

STF staff recorded the forum presentations and hopes to have the video uploaded soon. Stay tuned!

Tony Giarrusso

Associate Director​
Georgia Tech

 

 

 

Jake Henry

Lead Arborist
Chatham County

Scott DeArmey

Assistant Director for Park and Tree
City of Savannah

Zoe Rinker

Executive Director
Savannah Tree Foundation

Chatham County Applications

As referred to in the Canopy Change presentation.

Interactive Map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/775762bd38e5414c8918baf3bc664631

Ecosystem Services Dashboards: https://gtmaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/44b63eb3eb8f465a84c89ce2854fde42

Potential Planting Tools: https://gtmaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=915c5aabb08b471a8dcbf69fa772f51b

Chatham Canopy Overview StoryMap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/605ea6bf3d0e4363b07f6dba80437af2

Chatham Site Visits StoryMap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d8fe48c6c71f4b509e1d85baf6a5cb9f

Coastal Canopy Overview StoryMap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/562a0696356e42cfbca41e2202f89822

Hub site with data download and all resources in one spot – https://georgia-coastal-tree-canopy-2010-2019-gtmaps.hub.arcgis.com/

Additional Resources

TreePlotter TreeCanopy.us:  https://treecanopy.us/ 

STF White Papers

Climate Change: https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STF_Climate_Change.pdf 

Tree Canopy Equity: https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STF_Tree-Canopy-Equity.pdf 

Stormwater Retention: https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STF_Storm-Water-Retention.pdf 

Air Pollution: https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STF_Air_Pollution.pdf 

Noise Buffering: https://savannahtree.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/STF_Noise-Buffering.pdf 

303 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
Savannah, GA 31401

PO Box 8880
Savannah, GA 31412

912-233-TREE

info@savannahtree.com

Savannah Tree Foundation protects and grows Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy.

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, tax identification number 58-1494721

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Tree Care Tips for Homeowners

 

Make a Donation

Nurturing Savannah’s Local Trees!

Savannah’s trees are not just part of the landscape; they’re a vital aspect of the city’s identity and ecosystem. As homeowners, caring for these local trees becomes a collective responsibility. The Savannah Tree Foundation understands this importance and annually organizes a tree giveaway to encourage tree planting and conservation efforts. Here are some valuable tree care tips to help homeowners nurture and protect these cherished assets in their neighborhoods.

Tree Tips

By following these tree care tips and actively participating in programs like the annual tree giveaway and Trick Or Tree Program organized by the Savannah Tree Foundation, homeowners can play a significant role in preserving Savannah’s local trees. Let’s join hands in nurturing these invaluable assets for the well-being of our community and the environment.

Choose the Right Tree

Before planting, select native species suitable for Savannah’s climate and soil. Consult the Savannah Tree Foundation’s resources or local arborists for guidance on tree species that thrive in the area.

Planting Practices

When planting, ensure proper depth and spacing to allow roots to establish. Avoid planting too deeply or too close to structures. Follow guidelines from the Foundation or seek advice from professionals.

Watering Needs

Provide adequate water, especially for young trees. During dry periods, give them a slow, deep watering to promote healthy root growth. Use mulch around the base to retain moisture.

Regular Pruning

Perform routine pruning to remove dead or damaged branches, promoting tree health and reducing potential hazards. Attend workshops or seek advice from the Savannah Tree Foundation for pruning best practices.

Pest and Disease Management

Keep an eye out for signs of pests or diseases. Learn to identify common issues and promptly address them with the help of experts or resources provided by the Foundation.

Participate in Tree Giveaway Programs

Take advantage of initiatives like the Savannah Tree Foundation’s annual tree giveaway and our Trick or Tree Giveaway Program. This event not only offers free trees but also provides guidance on planting and caring for them.

Important Downloads

Discover our Tree Planting & Care Resources. Download guides for expert tips on nurturing a greener community!

GUIDES FOR HOME PLANTING

RESOURCES FOR HOME PLANTING

 

MUNICIPLE TREE ORDINANCES

 

 

Did you know that our iconic live oak tree canopy is the result of intentional tree planting efforts in the late 1890s?

We enjoy these trees because a small group had the vision of a lush Savannah landscape and acted to make it happen.
About the Campaign

Please consider donating today, every little bit will help!

Today, our urban forest is facing challenges like construction and climate change that have diminished our regional tree canopy. It is time for us to be the visionaries who plant our future canopy. Building on trailblazing work in urban forest preservation, Savannah Tree Foundation is once more innovating new ways to ensure Savannah continues to be the Forest City.

To secure this legacy, Savannah Tree Foundation is now spearheading Savannah’s first Community Tree Nursery. A nursery that will preserve Savannah’s historic trees, increase tree planting and distribution volume, and maintain a diverse and top-tier inventory of native trees genetically adapted to our local climate.

Donate Today!

303 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
Savannah, GA 31401

PO Box 8880
Savannah, GA 31412

912-233-TREE

info@savannahtree.com

Savannah Tree Foundation protects and grows Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy.

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, tax identification number 58-1494721

]]> The Forest City https://savannahtree.org/the-forest-city/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:02 +0000 http://gator2025.temp.domains/~savannb4/?p=234636

The Forest City

 

Make a Donation

Chatham County is an

Urban Forest

Chatham County’s urban forest is one of its most famous natural resources. Contrary to popular belief, our forest has not always consisted of noble live oaks and towering magnolias. Our urban forest is ever-adapting to outside forces and continues to do so today.

The Past

The history of Savannah’s trees can be divided into three distinct urban forests, shaped by man-made and natural forces. We are currently enjoying our third forest, and the trees we plant today will form the foundation for our fourth.

SAVANNAH’S FIRST FOREST CONSISTED OF LONGLEAF PINE

Prior to the founding of the City of Savannah, the forests along the Georgia coast were predominantly composed of longleaf (Pinus palustris) and slash (Pinus elliottii) pines. The longleaf forests of the southeast once stretched from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas, and supported an incredible diversity of plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles. These same longleaf pines were harvested in 1733 to construct many of the original buildings of downtown Savannah.

SAVANNAH’S SECOND FOREST, PLANTED IN THE EARLY 1800’S, LED TO THE NICKNAME “FOREST CITY.”

In 1804, a hurricane decimated much of the city’s forest. The species that were replanted after this storm primarily consisted of sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), chinaberry (Melia azedarach), and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). This generation of forest is what led to Savannah becoming known as the Forest City.

SAVANNAH’S THIRD FOREST CONSISTS LARGELY OF LIVE OAKS, WHICH SHADE OUR STREETS TODAY

In 1893, another hurricane destroyed most of Savannah’s trees, taking out thousands of trees. In 1895, the Park and Tree Commission was formed to lead the reforestation effort across the City through the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Many of the larger trees you see today in downtown Savannah, particularly the live oaks (Quercus virginiana), are a result of that effort.

THE PRESENT

Thanks to past planting efforts, our current urban forest is robust and provides our community with many benefits.

CLEAN AIR

COOL AIR

IMPROVED HEALTH

REDUCED CARBON LEVELS

STORMWATER MITIGATION

ENERGY SAVINGS

WILDLIFE HABITAT

INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE

The Future

The history of Savannah’s trees can be divided into three distinct urban forests, shaped by man-made and natural forces. We are currently enjoying our third forest, and the trees we plant today will form the foundation for our fourth.

 

Check out the recap of our 2024 State of the Trees forum to learn more about what STF and its municipal partners are doing to protect and grow our forest today!

 

303 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
Savannah, GA 31401

PO Box 8880
Savannah, GA 31412

912-233-TREE

info@savannahtree.com

Savannah Tree Foundation protects and grows Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy.

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, tax identification number 58-1494721

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