Historic District Tree Management Plan, Fort Benning, Georgia

The management of the urban forest in the Fort Benning Historic District has immediate historic and social benefits, plus the potential for long-term economic benefits as the level of management improves and expand throughout the post.

The Historic District plan, based on City Beautiful and Garden City concepts prevalent during the 1920s and 1930s, uses landscaping, open space, and trees as primary components of the community. Maintenance of this historic setting is a primary objective of management.

By maintaining the historic tree design and placement, Fort Benning can also increase other benefits associated with trees. Energy conservation from the proper placement of trees within the community and from the overall effect of tree-lined streets can provide the economic benefit that funds all other urban forest management activities. Other benefits are important, but the energy benefit will be the driving force that enables the enjoyment of other benefits that are less measurable in economic terms.

The inventory of street trees provides specific information about these trees and a general guide to the management of similar trees in the residential areas of the Historic District. Like many communities, the urban forest in the Historic District is composed of mature and over-mature trees. Four species represent 60 percent of the existing street trees. The management plan recommends the use of more desirable trees and specifies that a more diverse species mix be developed over the next 10 years. Although Willow Oak, Laurel Oak, Water Oak, and Sweetgum have historic significance related to the source of seedlings during Gener.al Wells' early landscape efforts, their continued use will not help meet other long-term management goals. The continued use of large shade trees and the benefits associated with them are the historic components that will be replicated under this plan.

Current management practices are creating future tree hazards and increasing future tree management costs. All maintenance and construction practices that damage trees must be stopped immediately. Of primary concern are improper pruning of older trees, damage to the trunks of newly established trees during lawn maintenance, and damage to mature trees during sidewalk repair. Immediate changes of current practices will have a positive and measurable long·-term effect. During the next four years, urban forest management efforts should concentrate on the reduction of hazards in the Historic District and elimination of those practices that damage trees. These modifications to current management practices should be adopted for the urban trees throughout the Historic District and the post. The long-term management plan recommends a complete re-inventory of all trees in the Historic District to evaluate changes implemented during the next five years.