scholarly journals Vulnerability of Austin’s urban forest and natural areas: A report from the Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie A. Brandt ◽  
Cait Rottler ◽  
Wendy S. Gordon ◽  
Stacey L. Clark ◽  
Lisa O'Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Climate Trends ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Species Vulnerability ◽  
The City

The trees, developed green spaces, and natural areas within the City of Austin’s 400,882 acres will face direct and indirect impacts from a changing climate over the 21st century. This assessment evaluates the vulnerability of urban trees and natural and developed landscapes within the City Austin to a range of future climates. We synthesized and summarized information on the contemporary landscape, provided information on past climate trends, and illustrated a range of projected future climates. We used this information to inform models of habitat suitability for trees native to the area. Projected shifts in plant hardiness and heat zones were used to understand how less common native species, nonnative species, and cultivars may tolerate future conditions. We also assessed the adaptability of planted and naturally occurring trees to stressors that may not be accounted for in habitat suitability models such as drought, flooding, wind damage, and air pollution. The summary of the contemporary landscape identifies major stressors currently threatening trees and forests in Austin. Major current threats to the region’s urban forest include invasive species, pests and disease, and development. Austin has been warming at a rate of about 0.4°F per decade since measurements began in 1938 and temperature is expected to increase by 5 to 10°F by the end of this century compared to the most recent 30-year average. Both increases in heavy rain events and severe droughts are projected for the future, and the overall balance of precipitation and temperature may shift Austin’s climate to be more similar to the arid Southwest. Species distribution modeling of native trees suggests that suitable habitat may decrease for 14 primarily northern species, and increase for four more southern species. An analysis of tree species vulnerability that combines model projections, shifts in hardiness and heat zones, and adaptive capacity showed that only 3% of the trees estimated to be present in Austin based on the most recent Urban FIA estimate were considered to have low vulnerability in developed areas. Using a panel of local experts, we also assessed the vulnerability of developed and natural areas. All areas were rated as having moderate to moderate-high vulnerability, but the underlying factors driving that vulnerability differed by natural community and between East and West Austin. These projected changes in climate and their associated impacts and vulnerabilities will have important implications for urban forest management, including the planting and maintenance of street and park trees, management of natural areas, and long-term planning.

scholarly journals Urban trees facilitate the establishment of non-native forest insects

NeoBiota ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 25-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Branco ◽  
Pedro Nunes ◽  
Alain Roques ◽  
Maria Rosário Fernandes ◽  
Christophe Orazio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Country ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
First Record ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Forest Pests

Cities, due to the presence of ports and airports and the high diversity of trees in streets, parks, and gardens, may play an important role for the introduction of invasive forest pests. We hypothesize that areas of urban forest facilitate the establishment of non-native forest pests. Based on scientific literature and a pan-European database on non-native species feeding on woody plants, we analysed where the first detections occurred in European countries. We collected site data for 137 first detections in Europe and 508 first European country-specific records. We also estimated the percentage of tree cover and suitable habitat (green areas with trees) in buffers around detection points. The large majority of first records (89% for first record in Europe and 88% for first records in a European country) were found in cities or suburban areas. Only 7% of the cases were in forests far from cities. The probability of occurrence decreased sharply with distance from the city. The probability to be detected in urban areas was higher for sap feeders, gall makers, and seed or fruit feeders (>90%) than for bark and wood borers (81%). Detection sites in cities were highly diverse, including public parks, street trees, university campus, arboreta, zoos, and botanical gardens. The average proportion of suitable habitat was less than 10% in urban areas where the species were detected. Further, more than 72% of the cases occurred in sites with less than 20% of tree cover. Hotspots of first detection were identified along the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and near industrial areas of central Europe. We conclude that urban trees are main facilitators for the establishment of non-native forest pests, and that cities should thus be intensely surveyed. Moreover, as urban areas are highly populated, the involvement of citizens is highly recommended.

scholarly journals Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen L. Wolf ◽  
Sharon T. Lam ◽  
Jennifer K. McKeen ◽  
Gregory R.A. Richardson ◽  
Matilda van den Bosch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Future Research

The urban forest is a green infrastructure system that delivers multiple environmental, economic, social and health services, and functions in cities. Environmental benefits of urban trees are well understood, but no review to date has examined how urban trees affect human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of existing literature on the health impacts of urban trees that can inform future research, policy, and nature-based public health interventions. A systematic search used keywords representing human health, environmental health, and urban forestry. Following screening and appraisal of several thousand articles, 201 studies were conceptually sorted into a three-part framework. Reducing Harm, representing 41% of studies, includes topics such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, heat exposure, and pollen. Restoring Capacities, at 31%, includes attention restoration, mental health, stress reduction, and clinical outcomes. Building Capacities, at 28%, includes topics such as birth outcomes, active living, and weight status. The studies that were reviewed show substantial heterogeneity in purpose and method yet indicate important health outcomes associated with people’s exposure to trees. This review will help inform future research and practice, and demonstrates why urban forest planning and management should strategically promote trees as a social determinant of public health.

scholarly journals Tree Species Diversity and Socioeconomic Perspectives of the Urban (Food) Forest of Accra, Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Nero ◽  
Nana Kwapong ◽  
Raymond Jatta ◽  
Oluwole Fatunbi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
The City

Urban and peri-urban forestry has emerged as a complementary measure to contribute towards eliminating urban hunger and improved nutritional security. However, there is scanty knowledge about the composition, diversity, and socioeconomic contributions of urban food trees in African cities. This paper examines the diversity and composition of the urban forest and food trees of Accra and sheds light on perceptions of urbanites regarding food tree cultivation and availability in the city. Using a mixed methods approach, 105 respondents in six neighborhoods of Accra were interviewed while over 200 plots (100-m2 each) were surveyed across five land use types. Twenty-two out of the 70 woody species in Accra have edible parts (leaves, fruits, flowers, etc.). The food-tree abundance in the city is about half of the total number of trees enumerated. The species richness and abundance of the food trees and all trees in the city were significantly different among land use types (p < 0.0001) and neighborhood types (p < 0.0001). The diversity of food-bearing tree species was much higher in the poorer neighborhoods than in the wealthier neighborhoods. Respondents in wealthier neighborhoods indicated that tree and food-tree cover of the city was generally low and showed greater interest in cultivating food (fruit) trees and expanding urban forest cover than poorer neighborhoods. These findings demonstrate the need for urban food policy reforms that integrate urban-grown tree foods in the urban food system/culture.

Using habitat suitability models to predict changes in seagrass distribution caused by water management practices1This article is derived from a special session entitled “A New Hydrology: Inflow Effects on Ecosystem Form and Functioning” that took place at the February 2011 ASLO Aquatic Sciences conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 1380-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolando O. Santos ◽  
Diego Lirman
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Florida Everglades ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Biscayne Bay ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Aquatic Sciences ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

Habitat suitability (HS) models can help elucidate the relationship between organisms and their environment and simulate the potential impacts of human activities on species distributions. Here, we developed HS models for Thalassia testudinum and Halodule wrightii , two seagrasses found in Biscayne Bay (Florida, USA). These species are mostly found in nearshore habitats of the bay that are highly susceptible to changes in water quality because of their proximity to the city of Miami and activities and projects associated with the restoration of the Florida Everglades . The HS models parameterized with data collected at >900 sites highlighted salinity as a key factor determining habitat suitability for these seagrass species. Thalassia ’s suitable habitat was associated with higher, more stable salinity compared with that of Halodule , which was associated with lower salinity and shallower depths. Both species benefited under a simulated scenario of increased freshwater flow, but Halodule’s suitable habitat increased by 71% compared with that of Thalassia’s, which exhibited only an 18% increase. HS models such as those described here provide spatial modeling tools that can contribute science-based input into the management of coastal resources within an adaptive management framework.

scholarly journals The Structure and Composition of Gainesville's Urban Forest in 2016

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Andreu ◽  
Caroline A. Hament ◽  
David A. Fox ◽  
Robert J. Northrop
Keyword(s):  
Urban Forest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Forest Resources ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
The City

Trees in cities were formerly thought of merely as a collection of individuals found along streets and incorporated into landscaping. However, urban trees are now viewed as being part of a unique forest type, and understanding the urban forest’s structure and composition is an important first step towards managing it. This 4-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation aims to provide a broader understanding of the urban forest in the city of Gainesville, Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr413

scholarly journals Urban Forestry in North York

1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Morley
Keyword(s):  
Community Involvement ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Community Benefits ◽  
The City

Urban forestry is defined, and the role that it plays in providing amenity and community benefits to urban life is discussed. Since 1982, the city of North York has promoted community involvement in creating natural areas in its parks and greenbelts. Three examples of this program are given.

scholarly journals Tree Species Diversity and Socio-economic Perspectives of the Urban (Food) Forest of Accra, Ghana

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Nero ◽  
Nana Afranaa Kwapong ◽  
Raymond Jatta ◽  
Oluwole Fatunbi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Food System ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
African Cities ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
The City

In Africa, 80% of households in urban areas are food insecure and is coupled with a dramatically changing urban food culture towards increased consumption of sugary and fatty foods. Consequently, incidences of obesity and undernourishment in many African cities are becoming escalating. Urban and peri-urban forestry emerges as a complementary measure to contribute towards elimination of urban hunger and improved nutritional security. However, there is scanty knowledge about the composition, diversity and socioeconomic contributions of urban food trees in African cities and this hinders policy discussions integrating urban forestry into the food security discourse. This paper examines the diversity and composition of the urban forest and food trees of Accra and sheds light on perceptions of urbanites regarding food tree cultivation and availability in the city. Using a mixed methods approach, about 105 respondents in six neighbourhoods of Accra were interviewed while over 200 100-m2 plots were surveyed across five land use types. Twenty-two out of the 70 woody species in Accra are edible. The food tree abundance in the city is about half of the total number of trees enumerated. The species richness and abundance of the edible trees and all trees in the city were significantly different among land use types (p&lt;0.0001) and neighbourhood types (p&lt;0.0001). The diversity of food bearing tree species was much higher in the poorer neighbourhoods than in the wealthier neighbourhoods. Respondents in wealthier neighbourhoods indicated that tree and fruit tree cover of the city was generally low and showed greater interests in cultivating fruit trees and expanding urban forest cover than poorer neighbourhoods. These findings demonstrate the need for urban food policy reforms that integrate urban grown tree foods in the urban food system/culture.

scholarly journals City Trees and Municipal Wi-Fi Networks: Compatibility or Conflict?

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-210
Author(s):  
Igor Lacan ◽  
Joe McBride
Keyword(s):  
Computer Network ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Infrastructure ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Signal Attenuation ◽  
Leaf Size And Shape ◽  
Canopy Depth ◽  
The City

Conflict between city trees and infrastructure remains a problem in urban forestry. Municipal Wi-Fi, a citywide wireless computer network, may become a part of urban infrastructure, and because trees can diminish Wi-Fi signals, potential exists for conflict between urban trees and municipal Wi-Fi. This study examines attenuation of Wi-Fi signals in the City of Mountain View, California, U.S. by positioning a wireless-equipped computer so that trees obstructed the line-of-sight (LOS) between the computer and a Wi-Fi access point. Signal attenuation ranged from < 2 dB to 19 dB (mean: 5.6 dB), depending on the number and types of trees present. Although trees significantly attenuated signals, they did not diminish the average signal strength below -75 dBm (the minimum for a Wi-Fi connection) in any of the tests. A general linear model (r2 = 0.55) indicated that some tree characteristics (tree size, canopy depth, leaf type), but not others (number of trees in LOS, presence of leaves, leaf size, and shape) helped explain variation in signal attenuation. As long as the effect of urban trees is taken into account during planning of Wi-Fi networks, trees should not interfere with municipal Wi-Fi operation.

scholarly journals Structural Stability of Urban Trees Using Visual and Instrumental Techniques: A Review

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1752
Author(s):  
Camila S. F. Linhares ◽  
Raquel Gonçalves ◽  
Luis M. Martins ◽  
Sofia Knapic
Keyword(s):  
Structural Stability ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Acoustic Tomography ◽  
Tree Health ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Wood Deterioration

This review focuses on tree health assessment in urban forest, specifically on the methodologies commonly used to detect levels, dimensions, and location of wood deterioration. The acknowledged benefits to the urban forestry area from the application of assessment techniques are also addressed. A summary is presented of the different methodologies, such as visual analyses, acoustic tomography, and digital wood inspection drill, with the underlined importance of the biodeterioration of wood by fungi and termites.

scholarly journals Understanding the Ecosystem Services of Urban Forests: Implications for Climate Change Mitigtation in the case of Adama City of Oromiya Region Sate, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hingabu Hordofa Koricho ◽  
Ararsa Derese Seboka ◽  
Fekadu Fufa ◽  
Tikabo Gebreyesus ◽  
Shaoxian Song
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Carica Papaya ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Melia Azedarach ◽  
Pollution Removal ◽  
The City

Abstract Background this study was conducted to explore the ecosystem services of urban forests in Adama city, central Ethiopia. Attempts were made to quantify the carbon storage and sequestration, air pollution removal and hydrological benefits of urban trees. The urban forest stracture and composition of the city was surveyed and analyzed. The i-Tree Eco Model was employed to analyze the ecosystem services based on the current urban forests structure of the city. Results the result revealed that the urban trees of the Adama city stored a total of 116,000 tons of carbon. The tree species identified with higher CO2 sequestration per year were Melia azedarach (15%), Eucalyptusglobulus (8%, Carica papaya(7%), and Delonix regia (6%). Approximately 22, 12, 10 and 4% of carbon were stored by Eucalyptus globulus, Melia azedarach, Carica papaya and Delonix regia tree species respectively. Moreover, trees and shrubs spps. in the city removed about 188 thousand tons of air pollutants caused by O3, CO, NO2, PM2.5 and SO2 per year. In Adama, 35% of the urban trees’ VOC emissions were from Eucalyptus cinerea and Eucalyptus globulus. The monetary value of Adama urban forest in terms of carbon storage, carbon sequestration, and pollution removal was estimated to 43,781, 3,121 yr− 1 and 320,915,596 USD yr− 1, respectively. Conclusions it was concluded that significant quantiy of CO2 and air pollutnants were found being removed by the exotic tree and shrub species. However, every plant species found in the city does not mean ecologically important due their VOC emitting nature. Thus, proper planning and inventories of urban forests should be put in place by the key stakeholders such as government, urban foresters and city dwellers as urban trees mitigates climate changes and essential to alleviate urban pollution besides the trees add esthetic value to the city.

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