Chapter 14: Urban Forestry Flashcards
urban forestry
management of naturally occurring and planted trees and associated plants in urban areas; includes private and public land with trees along streets, in parks and greenspaces, and within commercial, industrial, and residential areas
arboriculture
practice and study of the care of trees and other woody plants in the landscape
Contrast urban forestry and arboriculture
urban forestry focuses on the “forest” or larger populations of trees in urban areas
arboriculture focuses on the tree
municipal arborist
an individual specializing in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry and having responsibility for the management of all or part of planted and naturally occurring greenspaces on public land in communities
city forester
an individual specializing in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry and having responsibility for the management of all or part of planted and naturally occurring greenspaces on public land in communities
tree warden
title given to an individual who cares for trees on public town lands, mostly used in several New England states (U.S.)
tree officer
in the United Kingdon and other countries, an individual responsible for the care and protection of public trees and greenspaces
Who must urban foresters work with?
urban planners, civil engineers, public works officials, government agencies, and the public
Benefits of trees in urban areas?
environmental improvements, aesthetic enhancements; economic savings, and social (health and well-being) benefits
Costs of trees in urban areas?
associated with planting and maintaining them and in managing challenges involved with growing trees; can become liabilities when not properly cared for and managed
Environmental benefits of trees in urban areas?
- improve air quality, sequester carbon, conserve energy
- reduce stormwater runoff and erosion; reduces the amount of waste through runoff, reducing storm water management costs and soil erosion; roots hold soil in place to reduce erosion
- give off oxygen through photosynthesis, collect and filter airborne particulate pollutants and hold them on their leaves
- shade the ground, reducing temperatures and transpiration through the leaves which cools the air
- provide food and cover for wildlife
stormwater runoff
water originating from precipitation (rain or melting snow and ice) that flows above ground rather than infiltrating into the soil; may occur if soils are frozen or saturated or if the rate at which precipitation falls is greater than the infiltration rate of a soil
carbon sequestration
capturing and long-term storage of carbon; most often used in reference to the capturing of atmospheric carbon dioxide through biological, chemical, or physical processes; trees sequester carbon through photosynthesis; storing of carbon in the form of wood and other carbon-based tissues
greenhouse effect
rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun
Economic benefits of trees
reduced cooling expenses, increased property values, attraction of businesses (and shoppers stay longer) and residences to an area; reduce heating and cooling costs when trees are planted near/around buildings; shade and protect hardscapes from the sun thereby reducing replacement and maintenance costs
Where should you plant deciduous trees to contribute economically?
larger, deciduous trees located on the south and west sides of buildings typically contribute the most to reducing air-conditioning demands in temperate climates; allow sunlight to pass through and warm buildings in winter and serve as windbreaks in cold winter climates
hardscapes
constructed inanimate elements of a landscape, such as walls, pathways, pavements, and seats made of wood, stone, and/or other materials
Social and psychological benefits of trees in urban areas?
people are drawn to areas with trees in cities; stress reduction, shorter hospital recovery times where trees are visible, behavioral improvements in children and reductions in certain types of crime; element in therapeutic gardens and restorative settings
Aesthetic benefits of trees in urban areas?
trees screen unwanted views, provide shade on hot days; add beauty to spaces
maintenance cost of trees
irrigation, pruning, plant health care, debris clean-up, and risk management; costs vary according to the size, species, and location of trees; but planting trees is a front-end expense getting them through the establishment phase (first few years of their lives)
i-Tree
suite of software products and management tools that allows the user to inventory the urban forest and analyze its costs, benefits, and management needs; set of assessment and management tools that can calculate collective cost-benefit analyses for populations of trees based on inventories and management approaches
CTLA methodology
promulgated by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers in the U.S.; uses several approaches, each applicable under different circumstances, to place an appraised value on a single tree; involve calculations based on scoring systems that take into account tree size, species, condition, and location
Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
group of representatives of several tree care and landscape associations that works to research and author the Guide for Plant Appraisal
replacement cost
method to appraise the monetary value of trees considered replaceable with nursery - or field-grown stock; based on the cost of replacement with the same or comparable species of the same size in the same place, subject to depreciation for various factors; might be used in the event of a loss
trunk formula method
method to appraise the monetary value of trees considered too large to be replaced with nursery or field-grown stock; based on developing a representative unit cost for replacement with the same or a comparable species of the same size and in the same place, subject to depreciation for various factors; might be used for trees that are too large to replace, based primarily on size (and modified by other factors)
How to communicate in the language of engineers and planners?
use quantitative terms to communicate the needs and benefits of urban trees; explain suitable soil volumes and characteristics necessary to ensure adequate root space and resources
green infrastructure
living components within developed areas; can be incorporated with gray infrastructure (utilities, paved surfaces, and buildings) to perform important ecological functions such as stormwater management, erosion control, temperature buffering and more; natural resources upon which the city is built; trees, urban streams, and parks; appreciates as time goes by; strategically planned and managed network of wilderness, parks, greenways, conservation easements, and working lands with conservation value that supports native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains air and water resources, and contributes to health and quality of life in cities and communities
gray infrastructure
streets, sidewalks, sewer systems that support urban life; depreciates as soon as it is built
sustainability
the ability to maintain ecological, social, and economic benefits over time; enhanced by planting trees in groups and in larger urban greenscapes that more closely mimic natural environments
tree inventory
record of each tree within a designated population; typically includes species, size, location, condition, and maintenance requirements; record of location, characteristics, and assessment of individual trees and tree stands over a well-defined area; detailed inventories include site information, crown dimensions, maintenance recommendations, and risk assessment
Why is having an accurate inventory important to an urban forester?
to better manage the tree resources; to quickly locate trees in the database with any notes of history, condition, and maintenance; can be used to assess the structure, function, and value of the urban forest; only helpful if data is updated, maintained, and utilized
Geographic Information System
GIS; computer application used to store, view, and analyze geographical information, typically maps; digital maps replacing paper maps
risk management
systematic application of management policies, procedures, and practices for identifying, evaluating, treating, monitoring, and communicating risk
risk management plan
includes risk management policy statement and sets out policies for identifying, assessing, reporting, and mitigating risks from potentially hazardous trees; may include a standard-of-care statement, determination of acceptable risk, the frequency and methods of tree risk assessment, record-keeping protocols, and a statement of how the program is to be funded
tree ordinances
tree-specific legal document that defines a public agency’s authority, describes required conditions or actions, establishes penalties for nonconformance, and identifies who is responsible for enforcement and oversight; legal regulations drafted and instituted to protect trees within a given jurisdiction; defines the jurisdiction’s authority, describes the conditions and requirements of the ordinance, establishes penalties for noncompliance, and specifies the responsibility for enforcement
Types of other ordinances that impact trees
zoning and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans
Examples of tree ordinance provisions
- ) requirements for property owners to care for trees in right-of-way zones adjacent to their property
- ) guidelines and requirements for obtaining permits for tree planting, maintenance, or removal
- ) authorization for public workers to enter private property for tree inspections or to perform required maintenance
- ) lists of acceptable species to be planted on the jurisdiction’s property
- ) regulations prohibiting topping of trees
permits
written order granting permission to do something, such as planting, pruning, tree maintenance, or any activity that might affect trees such as construction
tree preservation orders
TPOs; in the United Kingdom (and being adopted elsewhere), a legal regulation, established by a local authority, that protects a tree or multiple trees; often put in place to preserve trees during land developments; apply to trees that must be specified in a well defined area
standard
an established or widely recognized authority of acceptable performance; may be recognized in the court of law even if not carrying direct legislative authority
specifications
detailed plans, requirements, and statements of particular procedures and/or standards used to define and guide work
best management practices
BMPs; best available, industry-recognized courses of action, in consideration of the benefits and limitations, based on scientific research and current knowledge; color in the picture after national standards draw the lines; provide more descriptive “how to” for tree care and management procedures
primary goals of urban forestry
manage tree resources to maximize their environmental, social, and economic benefits while managing any associated risks and costs
urban forest management plan
document that describes how urban forestry goals are to be accomplished within a defined time frame; includes tasks, priorities, best management practices, standards, specifications, budgets, and staffing analysis; formulates and documents the strategies and procedures for managing trees within a predefined area or jurisdiction; define goals and objectives, establish guidelines, include key stakeholders, and determine resources needed to maintain a sustainable urban forest; establishes priorities and goals within the limitations of the local authority, climate, financial constraints, and resources available; involves the assessment of the current human, financial, public, and environmental resources, and chart a course for meeting the stated goals
stakeholders
person or group that has an interest in, or is affected by, an activity or decision
Component subplans of urban forest management plans
planting plan, preservation plan, maintenance plan, tree removal and replacement plan, risk management plan, operations plan, storm-response/emergency plan, PR/education plan
right tree, right place
slogan coined by the utility arboriculture industry and adopted by the arboriculture profession as a whole to emphasize the need to match trees to planting sites
species diversity
measure of the number and variety of different species found in a given area
Recommendations for maximum densities of species based on percentages of overall tree population
densities not to exceed 30% from a single plant family, 20% of a single genus, and 10% of a single species
tree diversity of an urban forest
includes age and size diversity to maximize health, sustainability, and benefits as well as species
Common pruning cycle for utility and municipal arboriculture sectors?
4 to 5 years
Options for recycling wood
firewood, biofuel for energy production, sold to lumber for paper mills, specialty wood for artisans, run through a tub grinder to make mulch
composting
subjecting organic matter to decay and decomposition processes; decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms; decomposition process generates heat killing pathogens and weed seed and leaving a product rich and organic good for gardening and landscaping
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEED; green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) to provide standards for environmentally sustainable construction and building management practices; program to establish a set of standards for building and development certification to encourage energy efficiency, conservation of resources, and improved air and water quality
Sustainable Sites Initiative
program created to establish national (U.S.) guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction, and maintenance practices; interdisciplinary effort of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design and for construction maintenance practices in the U.S.
wildlife
animals living in a natural, undomesticated state; broad term that includes all animals and vegetation living in a natural, undomesticated state
habitat
an environment suitable for sustaining a population of a given organism
ecosystem
complex system of living organisms and their abiotic environment
