Protecting Trees and Sensitive Landscape Features (0-4548-S)

Preserving or protecting existing vegetation and landforms appears to offer benefits to the community in aesthetic value and to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in construction and maintenance costs. Tree protection procedures both in cities and in departments of transportation rely heavily on guidelines and information from state county extension agencies, forestry departments at universities, and federal agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Forestry Service. The Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture, two dominant private organizations, provide a wide array of consumer and construction trade information. Many of TxDOT's standards for tree and special landform protection were adapted from tree care industry standards, some of which are no longer considered valid. This project developed guidelines for determining what vegetation can be saved and why, associated costs, adn safety and social concerns affecting protection/preservation decisions.