Drivers of Tree Canopy Loss in a Mid-Sized Growing City: Case Study in Portland, OR
This study assesses changes in Portland, Oregon’s urban tree canopy from 2014 to 2020 and finds an unexpected spatial distribution of UTC change: less gain in the neighborhoods with the least tree canopy, and greater loss in the neighborhoods with moderate tree canopy. Ock, Y., Shandas, V., Ribeiro, F. & Young, N. (2024). Drivers of […]
Why Opt-in to a Planting Program? Long-term Residents Value Street Tree Aesthetics
The focus of this study was to address three questions about participation in a request-driven program that provides free street trees to residents of New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.: 1) Who requests trees through this program? 2) How did the requesters hear about this program? 3) Why did residents request free street trees? Locke, D., Roman, […]
Centering Community Perspectives to Advance Recognitional Justice for Sustainable Cities: Lessons from Urban Forest Practice
This study exposes several complex socio-political challenges affecting steward engagement in community-led tree initiatives and the broader pursuit of environmental justice, including discriminatory urban planning practices, gentrification concerns, underrepresentation of Black and Latinx voices in decision-making, volunteer-based tree-planting models, and tree life cycle costs. Grant, A., Edge, S., Millward, A., Teelucksingh, C., & Roman, L.(2024). Centering […]
The Disparity in Tree Cover and Ecosystem Service Values Among Redlining Classes in the United States
This study helps illustrate the overall impact of the legacy of racially discriminatory redlining practices on current tree and impervious cover in U.S. cities. It confirms that redlined areas have lower tree cover, greater impervious cover, and lower forest ecosystem values than other areas. Nowak, D., Ellis, A., Greenfield, E.(2022). The disparity in tree cover […]
Characteristics of Ice Storms in the US
Though somewhat dated, this publication provides detailed descriptions of the types, intensity, location and impacts of ice storms in the US — based on multiple data collections covering a half-century.. Changnon, A. (2003). Characteristics of Ice Storms in the United States. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 42(5), 630-639. View resource .elementor-element-b4370f1 .elementor-button { background-color: […]
Arid Climates: What Species Survive, What Don’t
This study of reforestation in Tucson’s low canopy neighborhoods produced two important findings: first, which arid-tolerant tree species are most likely to survive; and survivability of trees planted in low income areas. Foley, T., Wolf, A.M., Lamica, A., Henriquez, P., Sandoval, F., & Rogstad, A.(2019). Low Income Urban Forestry Program in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Cities and […]
Economic Contribution Analysis of Urban and Community Forestry in the Southern United States
As populations in developing areas continue to increase in recent years, urban and community forestry (U&CF) has received considerable attention due to the ecological, social, and economic significance of trees and green landscapes in urban and semi-urban settings. This paper used a regional survey of private, public, and nonprofit businesses and agencies involved in U&CF. […]
Trees or Grass: Roots of Improved School Performance
Studies of 318 Chicago area schools found a positive association between school yard greenness and improved performance on math tests (and a less powerful performance on reading). Researchers dug deeper to determine whether the impact was related to all greenness or if it was associated specifically with either grass or trees. They found that only […]
Phytoremediation: Plants are Always Good
Article comparing phytoremediation to traditional practices of cleaning harmful contaminants as well as showing different ways phytoremediation can be used. Sacardia, E, (2016). Phytoremediation: Plants are always good to us. Groundsure View resource .elementor-element-b4370f1 .elementor-button { background-color: #337577; border: 1px solid #337577; border-radius: 25px; padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem; margin: 0.25rem; font-size: 1rem; color: #fff; display: inline-flex; […]
The Role of Trees in Stormwater Management
Up-to-date primary source outlining opportunities and barriers to using trees in stormwater management — related to arboricultural, institutional and organizational challenges. Defines research priorities to promote use of trees in stormwater management. Berland, A., Shiflett, S. A., Shuster, W. D., Garmestani, A. S., Goddard, H. C., Herrmann, D. L., & Hopton, M. E. (2017). The […]
Tree Pit Infiltration Capacity: Effects of Different Design and Management Strategies
Water infiltration rate was measured at forty tree pits representing the variety of physical conditions commonly seen in New York City, including the presence or absence of a tree pit guard, the size of the tree pit, the size of the tree, the presence or absence of ground cover planting, the presence or absence of […]
Working Hard- Trees in Four Arid Communities
The Growing a Healthier Community Urban Forestry Analysis utilizes i-Tree Eco to present comparative tree data from four arid communities in the southwest United States USDA Forest Service with City of Albuquerque, City of El Paso, CITY of Phoenix, City of Las Cruces, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, New Mexico State Forestry & […]