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Tree Protection Recommendations for Rural Areas

Trees are an essential part of our world. In addition to providing thousands of useful products, trees help improve air and water quality, save energy, reduce noise pollution, improve personal health, increase economic stability, provide wildlife habitat, and add scenic beauty.

Trees are also our most valued agricultural crop and support the third largest manufacturing industry in our State. As a natural resource, wood is renewable, reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable.

Tree ordinances have long been used to protect trees in cities and towns. Now, through Comprehensive Planning, many local governments are considering applying similar ordinances to rural areas. Trees protection in rural areas is very different than in urban settings and a local tree ordinance, if deemed necessary, should reflect that difference. The South Carolina Forestry Association can assist local governments considering tree protection ordinances in rural areas.

A local tree ordinance can be crafted to:

• Identify and maintain special trees for public appreciation and scenic beauty.
• Provide incentives to keep land in forest use.
• Promote preservation and care of exiting trees.
• Encourage planting of additional trees during land development.

General Considerations

• Recognize that managed forest lands are one of the most environmentally friendly of land uses and are desired and encouraged.
• The best way to promote a healthy, diverse, and productive forest base is to encourage responsible forest management and accessible markets for forest products.
• A local Tree Ordinance should acknowledge the many environmental, economic, and social benefits provided by privately owned forestland.
• Infrastructure planning can have a greater impact on forestlands than tree ordinances.
• Landowners have a vested right to carry out normal silvicultural practices and harvest timber in a responsible manner.
• Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) should be encouraged, and all regulations should be consistent with state and federal guidelines.
• If a tree ordinance is desired, it should be one component of a comprehensive plan that includes zoning, land use regulations, development standards, and open space acquisition.
• Focus on voluntary programs, incentives, and education to achieve objectives.
• Tree ordinances should vary restrictions as appropriate for different land use zones.
• The County should seek to protect unique and special sites with outstanding public benefit through voluntary agreements, conservation easements, acquisition, and other means.
• Consult experts for science based information to resolve conflicts about biology, wildlife benefits, suitability of land use, and other issues.
• Provide incentives or services to match demands on property owners, especially regarding aesthetics.
• For an ordinance to be fairly and effectively administered, qualified staff or consultants must be available to review plans and make recommendations on enforcement.
• Consider applying a tree preservation ordinance to a setback or yard area only.
• Consider including tree preservation regulations in existing development standards.
• Commercial timber operations should be distinguished from land clearing for development.
• Include exemptions for diseased, damaged, and unsafe trees, and if saving a tree is not practical or feasible.
• Exempt individual trees if certain tree density criteria are met (i.e. allow removal of some trees in a grove or grouping containing many large trees).
• Focus on younger trees and groups of trees, as larger trees are often in declining health.
• All commercial operations adjacent to county roads should be conducted to allow safe passage of normal vehicular traffic.