Newport Tree Conservancy State of the Forest 2021

state OF THE forest 2021

STAFF

Our mission is to foster a healthy urban forest in Newport, RI through a permanent tree management and planting program for the benefit of present and future citizens of our community.

Natasha Harrison Executive Director Rachel Holbert Program Director Jon Greenberg Operations Manager Joe Verstandig Living Collections Manager Kristyn Woodland Horticulturist

BOARD Lilly Dick – President

The Newport Tree Conservancy engages our community with public education regarding the

Maureen Cronin Robert Currier

importance of trees in our lives and promoting

Lisa Lewis

improved planting and maintenance techniques.

Susan Ruf Maureen Whitley Scott Wheeler­ – ­ Ex-Officio Advisor

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

DEAR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS, as I look back on 2020, I am filled with mixed emotions and gratitude. As surreal as it was, I think many people were able to reconnect with the world around them and found some solace in nature; I heard many times how important trees were in that process.

At the Newport Tree Conservancy, we were able to stay steady and meet our mission without much interruption.

We successfully pivoted and made the best of the situation.

Horticulture can be a solitary activity, so our staff was able to propagate 200 new trees, give away 53 free trees and plant 183 public trees with the City of Newport. In addition, we ran programs in every public school in Newport; getting the students outside and away from their screens to learn about trees.

We designed and delivered impactful programs, sometimes to a class of 30, just 8 students at a time, in order to keep social distancing. It was worth the effort and the time because of the genuine appreciation from the kids, the teachers and the administration.

In 2020, we were able to stay financially viable and keep our staff busy throughout the pandemic, thanks to our very generous and steadfast supporters. We are thankful to the partners and donors that helped us get through the necessary program changes, remote work and shifting of events.

The Newport Tree Conservancy moved forward carefully and successfully throughout the uncertainty and has proven to be resilient and strong. I have no doubt that we will continue to expand our work and serve our community in the coming years and be able to handle anything that happens along the way in a productive and thoughtful manner.

Here’s to a very green future!

Natasha Harrison Executive Director State of the Forest 2021

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183 53

3

NEW TREES PLANTED IN 2020

FREE SPECIMEN TREES

40

SPONSORED BARE-ROOT TREES

90

NEW TREES IN MIANTONOMI PARK

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

EVERY TREE PLANTED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IN NEWPORT IS PURCHASED BY THE NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY We aim to provide the highest level of care to the trees that we select and we invite our community to join us through our volunteer programs.

Our goal is to engage all Newporters with our work as we protect, grow, and sustain our shared urban forest. In addition to increasing tree canopy throughout the city, our volunteers are now providing early and ongoing care to newly planted trees to give them the strongest start possible. By having a community that is invested in our shared trees we secure the care and maintenance of our urban forest for the future.

Kousa dogwood (cornus kousa) at the Children's Arboretum on the grounds of Claiborne Pell Elementary School.

State of the Forest 2021

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69

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers Frank, Rich, & Jon (in green) w/ Horticulturist Kristyn Woodland.

345 SERVICE HOURS

VOLUNTEERS In 2020 we launched the Tree Corps, our volunteer team that cares for city trees by mulching and watering newly established trees in Newport. New and seasoned volunteers meet weekly, with larger groups coming together for bigger scale projects around the city.

With generous funds from the Champlin Foundation we purchased a truck, trailer, water tank, and tools for the purpose of caring for our community trees and engaging volunteers.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

388

NTC NURSERY TREES CARED FOR

TREE CORPS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

28

PELL ELEMENTARY

93

MIANTONOMI PARK

80

WEEKLY WATER SITES

224

CITY TREES CARED FOR

AQUIDNECK PARK

14

MORTON PARK

18

KING PARK

19

State of the Forest 2021

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NEWPORT’S TREES ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK annual storm water intercepted1

annual co2 sequestered1

2” tree2

10” tree2

142

729

13.8

20

179

9,230

GALLONS

POUNDS

GALLONS

POUNDS

newport’s forest

MILLION GALLONS

TONS

1Estimates based on iTree calculations. 2Diameter at breast-height 7

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

TREES PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE AS ONE OF THE MANY TOOLS NEEDED TO FIGHT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. In addition to the “regular” carbon dioxide (CO2) that we exhale and trees and plants need for photosynthesis, humans produce “rampant” CO2 by burning fossil fuels. This rampant CO2 creates a heat-trapping blanket around the earth, which drives global climate change.

Community-level climate solutions­like planting and maintaining trees— especially in urban areas­—not only offset CO2 emissions, but also help to cool the surrounding area. While tree shade helps to block the sun’s heat from surfaces, the transpiration and evaporation of water through and around trees cools the air.

Newport loses some 150 trees each year due to age, damage, disease and invasive insects. As climate conditions continue to change we must be forward thinking and plant the trees we’ll need tomorrow, as well as today.

We are planting for the future and educating the next generation of urban forest stewards and climate change champions, so that they can inherit and maintain a livable city.

Now is the time to prioritize tree planting and tree care to maintain and grow our city’s urban forest.

State of the Forest 2021

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112 HERITAGE TREE OFFSPRING: COMMON

LATIN

COLLECTED FROM

Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus

Merrillton Estate

12

-

Japanese Katsura

Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Merrillton Estate

3

27

Japanese Katsura

Cercidiphyllum japonicum

John Nicholas Brown Estate

3

-

European Beech

Fagus sylvatica

King Park

9

-

Europ ean Beech

Fagus sylvatica

Redwood Library

-

30

Fernleaf Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’

Chepstow

11

-

Fernleaf Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’

Redwood Library

4

-

Fernleaf Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’

The Liberty Tree

12

-

Weeping Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’

Harold Brown Villa

12

-

Copper Beech

Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’

Broadlawns Estate

6

-

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Morton Park

6

9

Turkey Oak

Quercus cerris

Chateau-sur-Mer

8

16

Turkey Oak

Quercus cerris

Morton Park

-

8

Turkey Oak

Quercus cerris

Rough Point

11

-

Camperdown Elm

Ulmus camperdownii

Eisenhower Park

13

-

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

GRAFTED

BY SEED

At the Heritage Tree Center, we are utilizing three methods of propagation: growing trees from seed, cuttings, and cloning trees through vegetative grafting.

Growing from seed produces non-identical offspring, because seeds themselves are produced by sexual reproduction, receiving genes from both male and female reproductive structures.

Grafting and cuttings, by contrast, create genetically identical clones of the original tree.

Combining these methods allows us to support the genetic diversity of our urban forest, while also replicating our most special trees, so that future generations may also learn their stories and marvel at their grandeur.

State of the Forest 2021

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NEWPORT’S NEXT GENERATION Young Newporters hold our city’s future in their hands. Their understanding of how nature and people interact is of the utmost importance.

Environmental literacy will empower our young people to grow up to be adults who make decisions that consider the needs of the community, and the well-being of the environment, in an equitable and just manner. Our young Newporters are the future stewards of our urban forest; future decision makers; future supporters of the Newport Tree Conservancy.

In 2020, the Newport Tree Conservancy set forth to create new youth programs with the goal of reaching kids in and out of school, as well as across grades K-12 in Newport public schools. We prioritized the schools’ needs by offering outdoor, socially distant programming during the pandemic.

Through field trips in city parks, exploration around school neighborhoods, and virtual

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

check-ins, we are inspiring young minds to love the trees around them. Youth at every age level are reporting more awareness of the trees that they once walked by without a second thought.

Youth are growing their awareness of trees as homes for wildlife, and beneficial living landscape features. Newport Tree Conservancy youth programs are reinforcing classroom topics, as well as teaching the concept of systems thinking. Newport’s urban forest is an accessible model of the interconnectedness of people, nature, climate, and environmental justice.

Connecting young people with their urban forest is essential to the preservation of our trees and the wellbeing of the community itself.

4 YOUTH ORG PARTNERS

5

SCHOOL PARTNERS

70

PROGRAM HOURS

State of the Forest 2021

368

YOUTHS ENGAGED

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INNOVATIVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION THROUGH HORTICULTURE The Newport Tree Conservancy has been carefully selecting Newport’s most historic trees to reproduce using various propagation methods.

At the turn of the 20th century, scientists, horticulturists, and botanists hunted rare specimen trees from around the world to adorn the “cottages” in Newport, built for the newly wealthy summer residents. Renowned landscape architects, including Frederick Law Olmsted, carefully positioned trees to compliment the architecture for decades to come. Many of these same trees still grace Newport's magnificent landscapes, yet most are nearing the end of their life.

Our team of horticulturists have successfully grafted several of these venerable specimens including copper beech, fern-leaf beech, katsura, and elm.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

These trees stand on properties owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, The City of Newport, The Redwood Library and Athenæum, The Newport Art Museum, The Newport Restoration Foundation and more.

When the parent tree passes, NTC will have trees in our nursery with the same DNA that could replace the lost specimen. Preserving their genetics is vital to maintaining the integrity of these historic landscapes.

The preservation of these historic trees enhances the experience of Newport for visitors and residents, and contributes to our city’s historic identity.

Living Collections Manager Joe Verstandig (center), flanked by volunteers Jon & Frank, repotting trees at the Heritage Tree Center.

State of the Forest 2021

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PRESERVING MIANTONOMI PARK’S WOODLANDS Roughly 80% of Miantonomi Park’s area consists of mature forest, mostly comprised of invasive species such as black locust, multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed and English oak.

With many of the English oaks failing, as well as the aging of many of the native black cherries, Miantonomi’s forest is at a crossroads. Starting in 2019, the Newport Tree Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Newport and local volunteers, has reintroduced native plants back into this threatened forest ecosystem. Species including red maple, tamarack, hackberry, and American hazel have been planted, and a new group of over 100 indigenous trees are set to be planted in October, 2021. Along with extensive efforts to control invasive plants, we are working to establish and encourage native tree populations that will reinvigorate the Miantonomi Park ecosystem for years to come.

RESTORATION AREA 15

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

This color-enhanced image makes clear the scale of Miantonomi's canopy decline.

Dead and dying trees (highlighted in red) litter the park's woodlands.

90

NEW NATIVE TREES PLANTED IN 2020

# TREES LATIN NAME

COMMON NAME

10

Celtis occidentalis

common hackberry

5

Carpinus caroliniana

American hornbeam

10

Sassafras albidum

sassafras

5

Acer saccharum

sugar maple

10

Ostrya viginiana

American hophornbeam

5

Corylus americana

American hazelnut

10

Betula alleghaniensis

swamp birch

5

Picea glauca

white spruce

5

Larix larcinia

eastern larch

10

Pinus banksiana

jack pine

10

Fagus grandifolia

American beech

5

Populus deltoides

eastern cottonwood

State of the Forest 2021

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NEWPORT COUNTY IS HOME TO MORE ACCREDITED ARBORETA THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD Our arboreta members are helping to document, preserve and celebrate Newport’s unique and historic tree canopy.

In 2019, the Newport Tree Conservancy facilitated the accreditation of the City of Newport as a level II arboretum through ArbNet's arboretum accreditation program. Today, in recognition of our community's diverse and historic tree collections, we have facilitated the accreditation of over 30 historic landscapes, public institutions, and private homes.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

ACCREDITED ARBORETA OF NEWPORT COUNTY: BELLEVUE HOUSE • THE BLUE GARDEN • BONNIECREST • BROADLAWNS THE CHALET • CLOVER PATCH • DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE EAST COURT • FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED PARK & ARBORETUM HARBOR HOUSE • HILLSIDE • MAHER-A-LAGO • MIRAMAR THE NEWPORT ARBORETUM • NEWPORT MANSIONS ARBORETUM OAKWOOD • OCEAN VIEW • PAX ET BONUM PEACE POCKET • ROSE ISLAND • SALT MARSH • SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY SEASCAPE • SECOND WIND • SOMERSHOME • STONYBROOK TOAD HALL • VILLA PALONA • WALNUT POINT • WEETAMOE • THE WHIM

State of the Forest 2021

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MET SCHOOL MIANTONOMI PARK

NTC IS ACTIVATING OUR SHARED COMMUNITY FOREST PELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ISLAND CEMETERY MLK COMMUNITY CENTER STORER PARK THOMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

QUEEN ANNE SQUARE

TOURO PARK

Utilizing Newport's parks and landscapes, we are working to make our urban forest accessible for all.

Our school programs, workshops, tours and volunteer projects are connecting residents and visitors with the trees and environmental systems that are all around us.

AQUIDNECK PARK

School Program KING PARK

BALLARD PARK

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

MORTON PARK

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL

Tour/Workshop Volunteer Project

Clockwise from left: tree walk in Ballard Park. Campers from Bike Newport exploring Miantonomi Park. Volunteers Elise and Aaron sprucing up mulch rings at King Park.

State of the Forest 2021

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2020 FINANCIALS INCOME Individuals 29%

Foundations 36%

Earned Income 16% Special Events 10%

Government Grants Corporations 3% 6%

Education 26% Horticulture 34%

Development 11%

4%

Administration 12%

$197,700.00

Individuals

$158,440.00

Earned Income

$87,028.47

Special Events

$55,802.66

Corporations

$34,150.00

Government Grants

$17,500.00

Total Income

EXPENSES

Facilities Facilities

Foundations

Operations 13%

$550,621.13

Facilities

$15,550.00

Development

$42,760.00

Administration

$46,648.00

Operations

$50,535.00

Education

$101,072.00

Horticulture

$132,170.00

Total Expenses

$388,735.00

Cones of Sargent's weeping hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’).

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: $25,000 + Bartlett Tree Experts The Champlin Foundation Helen Walker Raleigh Tree Care Trust Fund Lisette Prince van Beuren Charitable Foundation $10,000 - $24,999 Duncan & Barbara Chapman EJMP Fund for Philanthropy The Gruben Charitable Foundation Prince Charitable Trusts $5,000 - $9,999 Mary Coleman Virginia Decker Lilly Dick Bernard Gewirz Hartfield Foundation Susan Ruf & Michael Walsh $5,000 - $9,999 Aquidneck Land Trust: Merritt Neighborhood Fund

Dory & Dan Benson Maureen Cronin & Mark Marosits Brittain & John Damgard Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar Juliette McLennan R.I. Department of Environmental Management The Weintz Family Harbor Lights Foundation Maureen Whitley & Jeff Singer

$1,000 - $2,499 The Blue Garden Dick & Monty Burnham Jacqueline B. Colbert & Mark C. Muetterties, MD Christina & Igor Kryca Bob Gerber Jean & Sidney Gorham Matt & Anne Hamilton John D. Harris, II & Linda L. Sawyer George C. Herrick & Nannette C. Herrick Stefani Hulitar Katherine Kirk Robert & Heidi Manice Edith McBean Stephanie McLennan

Ann & Samuel Mencoff Maureen Mooney Newport County Fund OLB Foundation, Inc. Bettie & Jonathan Pardee The Petrovas Family Philanthropy Fund Jim & Ginny Purviance Kristin & Tyson Reed Sagecrest Mrs. Jay R. Schochet Sarah Schochet-Henken & Darrah March O’Connor

Susan & Dwight Sipprelle Swinburne Row Retail Associates, LLC Julie Toland

$500 - $999 Bank Newport Barbara Benson Frances Booth Sandra & Grenville Craig Robert Evans & Nancy Cushing Evans Edward Harvey Stephen Johnson Pam Kelley State of the Forest 2021

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: $500 - $999 Belinda Buck Kielland Newport Garden Club Roderick O’Hanley & Richard Crisson Lisa Perrault Diana Prince Frederick & Diana Prince Foundation Pamela Quinn Frank & Betsy Ray Janet Robinson Lorna & Jeremiah Shafir Jocelyn Sherman William & Alison Vareika Diane Wilsey Mark Zeller

$250 - $499 John & Elizabeth Brooks Donald Christ Liz & Emlen Drayton Warren & Linda Gray Robert & Angela Healey Mary Joan Hoene Lucy Kinsley Didi Lorillard 23

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

Sue McNally & Doug Sabetti Victoria Mele Thomas Palmer & Dominique Alfandre Diana Pearson Pamela & Bayard Russell Maj. Gen. & Mrs. Stephen R. Seiter Paul & Carole Steinbrenner David & Hilary Stookey Rev. Laurel Phelps Tower Margaret & Gerry Vento William & Kathleen Wallace

Up to $250 A4 Architecture Leith Adams Montana & Shawn Alexander Charles Allott Amaral Landscaping Kristie Anderson Mary Anthony Therese Antone Robert & Linda Armes Brian & Debbie Arnold Meg Arpin Melissa Bachelder

Wayne & Linda Bainton Jane & Dion Bally Bardorf & Bardorf, PC Brian & Mary Catherine Bardorf David Barnes Anne Becker Anne Benson Karen Augeri Benson Nicholas Benson & Alexandra Flood Lloyd & Lisa Berntsen Julie Bisbano Judy Blake Barbara & Warren Blakeley Priyanka Bobenski Khanna & Andrew Bobenski Richard & Barbara Bohan William Boiani Ed Booth & Maggie Hayes Bowen’s Wharf Company Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, Inc. Kate & Charlie Brandeis Joan & Jim Breakell Timothy J. Brown & Karen A. Mahanke Eileen Brown Maggie Bulmer Diana & Josiah Buntin

David & Mary Bush-Brown Ross & Leah Cann Richard Carmichael & Margaret Jones Mary Jo Carr Stephen & Sally Casey Richard Casey Casey, Richmond & Viking Insurance Roderick Cavanagh Sam & Pat Chase Kan Cheng Jonna Chewning Kelley & Chris Coen Jean Conway Marcie Cummings & Clarkson A. Collins Rob Currier Jeff Curtis Irene Cyr John & Pat Davis John Anthony & Helen de St. Jorre Matthew DeAngelis Matthew & Ramona Delaney Norah Diedrich Gerard DiRuggiero Paul Dolan Amy Dorkin

Alix & Jack Driscoll Victoria Duclos Barrett Margaret Hamilton Duprey Henry Eberhardt John Egan James Peterson & Katie Emmet Elizabeth Enochs Kathleen Enright Dorienne & Mohamad Farzan Kiki Finn Angela & Edwin Fischer Pamela & Ronald Fleming Ronald Lee Fleming Kimberly Fleming Edith Fletcher & Bob Cornett Marcy Fortnow Jo Eva Gaines Charles Gardner James & Dotti Garman A.L. Garrison & T.W. Emmett Pam Gilpin Elizabeth Goddard Gale Goff Architect Peter & Gale Goff Leonard Grace

Sarah Graham Kathleen Greenman Audrey Grimes Terry Grosvenor Ann Guinan June Halliday-Holden Sylvia & Donald Hampton Michael & Anne Hampton Peter Harty Michael & Mary Hayes Frances Stuart Hester Rick & Phyllis Higgerson T.L. Higginson, Jr. John & Mary Hirschboeck Robin Hofmann Henry Holbrook Molly Holland & Olivier David MM Jennings Lilliana Kay Terry Johnson Katherine Field & Associates Inc. Hank Kniskern Yvonne & Gary Lash Elizabeth Leatherman Bruce & Marilyn Leish State of the Forest 2021

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: Up to $250 continued Ellen Leys Elizabeth Leys Earle & Rita Lindell Chad Loebs Colleen Lyon Nanci & Steve Lyon Ron & Kati Machtley Shelley Mahood Anne Manice Michele Manning Elizabeth McMillen Elizabeth & Robert Meikle Constance Metcalf Caterine Milinaire Cushing Charles Miller Carlotta Morris Kevin Moss Arthur W. Murphy Dr. & Mrs. Michael Murphy Mary Murphy Rupert Nesbitt Ilse Nesbitt Naomi Neville 25

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

Newport Architectural Forum Carol Nicholls Lynn Nicoletta North-Eastern Tree Service Inc. Erin Flynn & Chyleene & Jack O’Connor Robert & Carol O’Donnell Marguerite O’Rourke Lauren Parmelee Christopher Pell Elizabeth Plowden Susan & Jon Powers Marissa Prosser Ann Randall Christa Reise Ellen Retlev Barbara Roberts Marie A. Robinson Pamela Rodgers William Rodiger James & Alice Ross Bettie Sarantos Dante Sassi & Mary Walsh Ricard Scannell Adrienne Shaw

Kathleen Silveira Devin & Carol Skelly Margaret Small Christie & Ed Smith Dave & Deborah Smith St. Michael’s Country Day School Faculty & Staff Mrs. Lorraine P. Steele Elizabeth Stevens Earle & Lisa Stubbs Kevin P. Sullivan David Thalmann Lydia Thomas Fran Van Liew Lynne & Alfred Vietri Geraldine & Gary Vitale Robert Walker Alexander Walsh & Cindy Madden Brownie Warburton Roger & Eileen Warburton Carol Ward Tarleton Watkins, II & Janet Atkins Charles F. Weishar Barbara Winkler & Robert Vitello

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Aquidneck Land Trust

Newport Open Space Partnership

Bike Newport

The Newport Project

The Blue Garden

Newport Public Schools

Boys & Girls Club of Newport County

Newport Restoration Foundation

The City of Newport

Newport Tree & Open Space Commission

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

The Point Association of Newport

FabNewport

Preservation Society of Newport County

Friends of The Waterfront

R.I. Department of Environmental Management

Island Cemetery

Rhode Island Environmental Education Association

The Met High School

The Redwood Library & Athenæum

Miantonomi Park Commission

Salve Regina University

Newport Health Equity Zone

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

State of the Forest 2021

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PO Box 863 Newport, RI 02840

(401) 324-9204 NewportTree.org