For the purposes of this subchapter: (1) "An acre of trees" means a contiguous acre of land on which there are situated at least 50 trees or woody plants with a trunk measuring at least 4 inches in diameter at 4 feet above the ground. Partial acres and individual parcels will be added together to determine the total acreage within the project scope. (2) "Canopy tree" means any tree or other woody plant that when fully grown will provide shade and/or shelter for the land beneath while allowing passage of people, animals and/or vehicles upon the land beneath. Canopy trees are classified in 1 of 3 categories: a. "Lower canopy." — "Lower canopy trees" include all species of trees and woody plants that when fully grown reach an average height of not more than 30 feet when measured vertically in a straight line from the uppermost branches to the ground immediately below. b. "Medium canopy." — "Medium canopy trees" include all species of trees and woody plants that when fully grown reach an average heights of not less than 30 feet nor more than 50 feet when measured vertically in a straight line from the uppermost branches to the ground immediately below. c. "Upper canopy." — "Upper canopy trees" include all species of trees and woody plants that when fully grown reach an average height of not less than 50 feet when measured vertically in a straight line from the uppermost branches to the ground immediately below. (3) "Construction project" means any activity undertaken, authorized or required by the Department of Transportation through which any expressway, arterial or collector road is: a. Constructed on a new alignment; or b. Widened by adding 1 or more through travel lanes. (4) "Forest" means a biological community dominated by trees covering a contiguous area of land and includes any definition thereof developed by the Department of Agriculture Forest Service. A "forest" may be identified by the diversity of the tree species composing it or by its type. A "forest type" is a forest composed of associations of tree species that have similar ecological requirements. (5) "Landscape improvements" means living trees and shrubs planted for the purpose of enhancing the aesthetic value or wildlife habitat of the land, including, but no limited to, organized or planned arrangements of living plants as well as naturally occurring or wild growth of living plants. These improvements shall be made in a manner prescribed by the Department of Transportation's landscape policies, as amended from to time. In establishing and modifying these policies, the Department of Transportation shall seek the advice of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and such other public or private agencies as may be deemed appropriate by the Department. (6) "Landscaping and planting activities" means the placement of landscape improvements. Landscaping and planting activities do not include the erection of fences, structures or other nonliving barriers or borders. (7) "Reforestation activities" means landscaping and planting activities according to advice provided by the Department of Agriculture Forest Service on lands within rights-of-way owned or controlled by the Department of Transportation on which no forest currently exists, or on which a forest exists that is less dense than recommended by the Department of Agriculture Forest Service, to a density that will reasonably ensure the establishment of a mature forest of a particular type once fully grown.
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