Advocacy Action: Support The Urban Forest Preservation Authority Amendment Act (UFPAAA)

Before this Arbor Day, Friday, April 29, tell the DC Council that you support enhanced tree protections. Here’s what’s great about the UFPAAA:

Tree Preservation Plans

If proposed development would harm a Special or Heritage Tree, a Tree Preservation Plan must be submitted before issuance of construction permits. This ensures tree protection is taken into account at the beginning of the construction process, instead of at the end. It also ensures district residents are better informed of the law, and will result in fewer accidental violations and damaged trees.

Stop Work Order Authority

Before the UFPAAA, District agencies could only levy fines after a tree was illegally removed. Over time, the fines simply became a cost of doing business. Now, for the first time, stop work orders can be issued if a Special or Heritage Tree is in imminent danger of removal without the proper permits. Illegal actions can now also result in revocation of building permits and business licenses for bad actors who knowingly harm protected trees.

Public Land Protections

UFPAAA extends tree protection laws to the District government itself. The law will now encompass tens of thousands of Special and Heritage Trees on public land, ensuring all trees are afforded equal protections, and showing the District holds itself to the same standards as its residents.

Sign in Support of Trees

Here is where we can use your help! We testify in front of the Council for better tree protection every time we can, but we are only one organization. Hearing directly from constituents is the most effective way to convince a Councilmember to support legislation.

Fill out the info below and we will submit a letter on your behalf to your Councilmember!

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Street Address:

Your Ward & Councilmember:

Your Personal Message

Though not required, a personal message to your councilmember explaining why you support UFPAAA is always more impactful. Here are some talking points that we use and can be used in your own letter to get you started:

Benefits of a Healthy Tree Canopy

- Trees make communities more sustainable and climate-resilient. They reduce and filter stormwater, reduce the urban heat island effect and have been shown to reduce stress and crime rates.

- Greater canopy and increased green spaces provide community cohesion, overall increases in physical activity and psychological health, improved academic achievement and aesthetic benefits.

- Trees should not be considered a nice-to-have “amenity,” but rather a standard element of every DC neighborhood no matter what the demographics or income lev

Enter your personal message below:

Preview of your message (your information will be merged when sent):

Dear Councilmember ______,

I am in support of the UFPAAA. We should require that developers create Tree Preservation Plans for construction projects that would affect Special or Heritage Trees before construction starts. Give the District government the authority to stop work where a Special or Heritage Tree is about to be illegally cut down. Increase penalties for bad actors who illegally remove protected trees. Ultimately, expanding tree protection laws to trees on District-owned property.

Your personal message will be inserted here.

Thank you so much for supporting trees.

Sincerely,

Your Full Name
Your Email
Your Street Address

Click Submit below to send this message. A copy of your message will also be sent to the email you have provided. Thank you for supporting DC's trees!

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