AB 131 — Revises provisions governing urban and community forestry. (BDR 47-720)

A.B.Assembly Bill No.

131131–Assemblymen ASSEMBLYCohen, BILLWatts; NO .

131–ASSEMBLYMENAnderson, CNewby OHENand ,Peters WCHAPTER.......... ATTS ;

NDERSON , NEWBY AND PETERS F EBRUARY 9, 2023 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing urban and community forestry.

(BDR 47-720) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

Yes.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Existing law authorizes the State Forester Firewarden, subject to the approval of the Director of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to negotiate for and enter into cooperative agreements with certain governmental,governmental to entities and organizations to establish and develop nurseries in this State for various purposes,Urban includingand Community Forestry Program within the Division of Forestry of theeates the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to promote, create, improve and maintain urban forestry.and community forests in this State.

(NRS 528.100) Section 6 ofrequires thisthe billState createsForester theFirewarden Urbanto andadminister Communitythe Forestry Program withinand thesets Divisionforth ofthe Forestryduties of the State DepartmentForester ofFirewarden, Conservationwhich andinclude: Natural Resources to promote, create, improve and maintain urban and community forests in this State.

Section(1) 6the requiresdevelopment theof Statelocal Foresterand Firewarden,regional whichtargets include:for urban and community tree canopies;

(1)(2) thecooperating developmentwith offorests; local andies of regional targets for urban and community tree canopies;

(2) cooperating with federal, state and local agencies to promote and advance urban and community forests;

Section 7 of this bill requires the Division to provide technical assistance to political subdivisions in this State for certain purposes relating to urban and to community forestry.

- *AB131* – 2 – Section 8 of this bill authorizes the State Forester Firewarden to develop a programnonprofit toorganizations awardfor grantscertain topurposes politicalrelating subdivisionsto ofurban thisand State,communityes Indian tribes and forestry.

organizations for certain purposes relating to urban and community Section 9 of this bill authorizes the State Forester Firewarden, subject to the approval of the Director, to enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the duties and functions of the Program.

- 82nd Session (2023) – 2 – EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

“Urban and community forest” means native or introduced trees and related plant materials in or near urban or community areas, including, without limitation, urban and community watersheds, soils, natural riparian habitats, street trees, park trees and residential trees.

- *AB131* – 3 – (d) Urban and community parks;

(e)(f) RiparianRiver corridors;parkways;ors;

(f) River parkways;

- 82nd Session (2023) – 3 – (i) Green infrastructure and sustainable landscapes;

and (k)3.) SolidIn wastecarrying prevention.out the requirements of subsection 2, the State Forester Firewarden shall:

3.

In carrying out the requirements of subsection 2, the State Forester Firewarden shall:

(c) Develop and disseminate best practices for maintaining the health of urban and community forests, which may include, withoutwitSec. limitation, the control of forest pests, insects and diseases.

Sec.

As part of the Urban and Community ForestryForestryand Programdiseases. created pursuant to section 6 of this act, the Division shall provide technical assistance to state and local agencies, governing bodies of cities and counties and other political subdivisions of this State in the following areas relating to urban and community forests:

Program created pursuant to section 6 of this act, the Division shall provide technical assistance to state and local agencies, governing bodies of cities and counties and other political subdivisions of this State in the following areas relating to urban and community forests:

- *AB131* – 4 – (d) The role of forest ecology in planning for the future of urban and community areas, including, without limitation, climate change, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, carbon - 82nd Session (2023) – 4 – sequestration, air quality, proper watershed functions and energy conservation;

(f) The role of urban and community forests as food forests in urban and community areas that have been designated as food deserts;

andandmmunity areas that have been designated as food (g) Any other matter the State Forester Firewarden deems relevant.

(c) The development and dissemination of training and educational materials on the benefits of urban and community forestry and best practices in maintaining the health of urban and community forests;

(e) Projects that demonstrate methods of urban and community forestry, prioritizing those that promote achievement of the objectives of the Program set forth in subsection 2 of section 6 of this act;

or - *AB131*82nd Session (2023) – 5 – (g) Other projects that promote achievement of the objectives of the Program set forth in subsection 2 of section 6 of this act, as determined by the State Forester Firewarden.

If a grant program is established pursuant to subsection 1, the Stateprogram.rester Forester Firewarden shall adopt regulations to carry out theSec. program.