Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.20
Liaison Susan Kidd
Submission Date June 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Agnes Scott College
IN-26: Innovation C

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Elizabeth Rowe
Sustainability Fellow
Center for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
MOU with City of Decatur on Tree Protection and Maintenance

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

Agnes Scott College aspires and endeavors to be an excellent steward of the roughly 2000 trees on its beautiful and historic 100-acre campus, in the conviction that trees have both intrinsic worth and irreplaceable value for the humans who live, study, work, and play amid them. As a college, tree-related policies, decisions, and actions can and should always further the educational mission. In keeping with these values, the college commits itself to high standards and best practices in both conservation of and education concerning its campus forest.

- Because the college currently has a canopy of greater % than the city’s overall canopy, and we have a tree management plan to replace trees that are removed, the city encouraged us to enter into an MOU. (As the previous arborist said, “Agnes Scott is doing more than required across the campus, so it is not worth the city’s time to look at each tree decision.”)

- Based on the MOU, and our tree management plan, we will maintain a canopy of at least 45%, but long term it is expected to be closer to 50%.

- Here is the process for tree removal:
1. The college’s consulting arborist will either make recommendations for removals based on his own observations or be asked to review any proposed removals by others on campus (coordinated by Facilities) and make a recommendation based on tree health, safety, etc.
2. The Director of Facilities (along with the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability if needed) will work with the arborist to make the final decision about removal. The arborist will document the decision for the files.
3. If the arborist, Director of Facilities and Executive Director (when needed) agree on the removal, then the tree will be removed with no further review or approval.
4. If there is disagreement, the recommendation for removal will be reviewed by the Arboretum Advisory Committee and the VP for Business & Finance.
5. The arborist will report on all tree removals at each Arboretum Advisory Committee meeting, expected to be three to four times a year

A signed copy of this MOU is kept on file at the City of Decatur.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Public Engagement
Grounds
Multidisciplinary approach to tree canopy learning & engagement

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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