Responsibilities

The Task Force shall establish recommendations for the following: (1) criteria for a definition of legacy tree and legacy tree standards that can be used on a variety of trees; (2) criteria for which the historical and cultural significance of a tree could be measured; (3) procedures for nominating trees on public and private property; (4) exploring partnership opportunities with units of local government for oversight of the legacy tree program and participation in the program; (5) creating a public awareness program, including digital media, a website, a legacy tree tool kit and educational materials to be made available by the Department of Natural Resources for use by units of local government; (6) exploring funding sources for the operation and maintenance of the statewide legacy tree program, including grant funding opportunities to facilitate participation in the program by units of local government; (7) procedures for withdrawing trees from the program; (8) procedures for legacy tree assessment; (9) procedures for how a tree would be designated or honored physically; (10) procedures for mapping trees on a searchable website; and (11) procedures for delisting a healthy designated legacy tree. (Source: P.A. 103-863, eff. 1-1-25 .)