Urban Forestry Master Plan

The City of Chesapeake is seeking a qualified firm to develop and produce its first Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). The UFMP will guide the long-term management, health, and sustainability of the City's urban tree canopy. The selected firm will collaborate with City staff and stakeholders to create a data-driven, actionable plan. The primary goals of the plan include improving canopy quality and coverage, expanding wildlife habitat, mitigating heat islands, increasing equity in canopy distribution, and maximizing long-term environmental benefits. Some key elements of the project include: • Integrating existing canopy assessment data • Quantifying current and future ecosystem service benefits • Establishing realistic canopy goals and an implementation timeline • Developing a public inventory of trees on City-owned property • Creating a public-facing interactive map • Identifying vacant planting sites throughout the city • Recommending strategies to improve efficiencies, lower costs, and reduce liabilities • Proposing incentives for tree planting and maintenance • Drafting tree preservation ordinance language • Identifying strategies to improve urban forest resilience and climate adaptation The City is looking for a firm with demonstrated experience in urban forestry, arboriculture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and environmental science. The firm should have a proven track record of delivering high-quality results for municipal clients and be able to provide a comprehensive and well-organized proposal that addresses all aspects of the project.