Background: Urban forestry is an emerging profession, yet its professional identity is not clearl... more Background: Urban forestry is an emerging profession, yet its professional identity is not clearly defined, nor does it have the full complement of support mechanisms commonly expected or needed by professionals. As a result, urban forest professionals rely on closely allied professions (e.g., arboriculture, forestry) resulting in frustration amongst urban forest professionals and confusion and lack of awareness amongst the general public. Methods: We developed a series of practical but ideal benchmarks for a successful “modern profession” based on features extracted from a review of the literature and precedents from 11 other professions. We then examined a broad array of evidence to identify gaps between the benchmarks and the current reality of the profession. Strength of evidence was assessed, and each benchmark was classified as being supported by established, emerging, or little to no evidence. Results: Gap analysis indicates that while the profession provides an essential ser...
Preservation of existing trees is one of the few tools available to communities seeking to mainta... more Preservation of existing trees is one of the few tools available to communities seeking to maintain or increase tree canopy coverage. This study compared the knowledge and activities of builders in an urban locale with a strict tree preservation ordinance and rigorous enforcement against a rural locale with no tree preservation ordinance. Overall, there were more similarities than differences between the two groups though some of those differences are very important. Urban builders and rural builders scored a very similar average of correct responses on questions testing their knowledge: 63% and 65%, respectively. The major difference between urban and rural appears to be in activities as dictated by ordinance. Urban builders were more likely to consult tree preservation experts and use tree fence to create tree protection zones. The successful tree preservation outcomes in the urban community are likely a direct result of ordinance requirements and enforcement by the City Forester,...
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities’ Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities ...
Abstract In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver b... more Abstract In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits to nearly two-thirds of the population. As global urban populations continue to rise, however, redevelopment is continually reported as a major factor in reduced canopy cover. While urban trees provide us with measurable benefits when adequately maintained, their costs when not cared for remains poorly understood. In order to safeguard the benefits that urban forests provide, municipalities have begun to introduce ordinances with the intention to protect and manage trees within their community. The aim of this study was to better understand the condition and survival outcomes of residential trees intended to be preserved through a municipal tree preservation ordinance. The results of this study found that a comprehensive tree preservation ordinance can successfully protect tree and soil health during and after residential development occurs. This is evident through an overall preservation rate of nearly 75%, having found no correlation between proximity to newly developed foundation and observed tree condition or mortality, and the discovery of healthy soil compaction levels within tree protection areas and the critical root zones of preserved trees. Collaborative research as demonstrated by this project can help both academics and professionals gain a better understanding of how to best manage their own urban forests.
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities’ Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities ...
Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees a... more Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees are often left behind during construction to become part of the future landscape. A study conducted in 1980 found that homebuilders in Portage County, Wisconsin, U.S. generally had a poor understanding of how construction activities could impact the health of trees intended to be preserved. Researchers replicated that study 27 years later by surveying homebuilders in the same region to see how their tree preservation knowledge and use of construction activities have changed during that time. The results indicate few construction activities changed significantly, showing that little has changed overall to improve tree preservation. Even though builders significantly improved their knowledge of the negative effects that storage of fill soil on roots poses to tree preservation, they also significantly increased usage of that very same activity. Builders almost never consulted a tree preserva...
ACADEMIC) While the practice of managing trees in and near human settlements has been around for ... more ACADEMIC) While the practice of managing trees in and near human settlements has been around for most of human history, urban forestry has only been organizing as a discrete profession since the mid-1960s. As a relatively new profession, urban forestry lacks much of the structure and organization seen in other professions. This study will contrast urban forestry against other professions to identify strategies for improving recruitment into urban forestry, collaboration with other professions, and career opportunities. Civil engineers, landscape architects, and urban planners (the allied professions) work together to plan and manage the urban environment, but urban foresters report difficulties integrating into or collaborating with this group diminishing their ability to influence urban forest management decisions. Allied professionals were surveyed on their usage of professional support mechanisms (e.g., certification) and their perception of professionalism in urban forestry. We ...
Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees a... more Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees are often left behind during construction to become part of the future landscape. A study conducted in 1980 found that homebuilders in Portage County, Wisconsin, U.S. generally had a poor understanding of how construction activities could impact the health of trees intended to be preserved. Researchers replicated that study 27 years later by surveying homebuilders in the same region to see how their tree preservation knowledge and use of construction activities have changed during that time. The results indicate few construction activities changed significantly, showing that little has changed overall to improve tree preservation. Even though builders significantly improved their knowledge of the negative effects that storage of fill soil on roots poses to tree preservation, they also significantly increased usage of that very same activity. Builders almost never consulted a tree preserva...
In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits t... more In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits to nearly two-thirds of the population. As global urban populations continue to rise, however, redevelopment is continually reported as a major factor in reduced canopy cover. While urban trees provide us with measurable benefits when adequately maintained, their costs when not cared for remains poorly understood. In order to safeguard the benefits that urban forests provide, municipalities have begun to introduce ordinances with the intention to protect and manage trees within their community. The aim of this study was to better understand the condition and survival outcomes of residential trees intended to be preserved through a municipal tree preservation ordinance. The results of this study found that a comprehensive tree preservation ordinance can successfully protect tree and soil health during and after residential development occurs. This is evident through an overall preservation rate of nearly 75%, having found no correlation between proximity to newly developed foundation and observed tree condition or mortality, and the discovery of healthy soil compaction levels within tree protection areas and the critical root zones of preserved trees. Collaborative research as demonstrated by this project can help both academics and professionals gain a better understanding of how to best manage their own urban forests.
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities' Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities from the Texas A&M Forest Service is consistent with the budget priorities and mission statement of that organization, which focuses on delivering technical and educational assistance over financial assistance. A lack of recent national trends to compare against greatly hampers understanding the efforts of Texas municipalities relative to other states. However, identifying current trends in Texas offers value to the Texas A&M Forest Service to understand the effect of their service delivery strategy. Urban foresters and city managers can also use these results to compare themselves against their peers, a common practice in setting municipal budgets and policy.
Background: Urban forestry is an emerging profession, yet its professional identity is not clearl... more Background: Urban forestry is an emerging profession, yet its professional identity is not clearly defined, nor does it have the full complement of support mechanisms commonly expected or needed by professionals. As a result, urban forest professionals rely on closely allied professions (e.g., arboriculture, forestry) resulting in frustration amongst urban forest professionals and confusion and lack of awareness amongst the general public. Methods: We developed a series of practical but ideal benchmarks for a successful “modern profession” based on features extracted from a review of the literature and precedents from 11 other professions. We then examined a broad array of evidence to identify gaps between the benchmarks and the current reality of the profession. Strength of evidence was assessed, and each benchmark was classified as being supported by established, emerging, or little to no evidence. Results: Gap analysis indicates that while the profession provides an essential ser...
Preservation of existing trees is one of the few tools available to communities seeking to mainta... more Preservation of existing trees is one of the few tools available to communities seeking to maintain or increase tree canopy coverage. This study compared the knowledge and activities of builders in an urban locale with a strict tree preservation ordinance and rigorous enforcement against a rural locale with no tree preservation ordinance. Overall, there were more similarities than differences between the two groups though some of those differences are very important. Urban builders and rural builders scored a very similar average of correct responses on questions testing their knowledge: 63% and 65%, respectively. The major difference between urban and rural appears to be in activities as dictated by ordinance. Urban builders were more likely to consult tree preservation experts and use tree fence to create tree protection zones. The successful tree preservation outcomes in the urban community are likely a direct result of ordinance requirements and enforcement by the City Forester,...
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities’ Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities ...
Abstract In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver b... more Abstract In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits to nearly two-thirds of the population. As global urban populations continue to rise, however, redevelopment is continually reported as a major factor in reduced canopy cover. While urban trees provide us with measurable benefits when adequately maintained, their costs when not cared for remains poorly understood. In order to safeguard the benefits that urban forests provide, municipalities have begun to introduce ordinances with the intention to protect and manage trees within their community. The aim of this study was to better understand the condition and survival outcomes of residential trees intended to be preserved through a municipal tree preservation ordinance. The results of this study found that a comprehensive tree preservation ordinance can successfully protect tree and soil health during and after residential development occurs. This is evident through an overall preservation rate of nearly 75%, having found no correlation between proximity to newly developed foundation and observed tree condition or mortality, and the discovery of healthy soil compaction levels within tree protection areas and the critical root zones of preserved trees. Collaborative research as demonstrated by this project can help both academics and professionals gain a better understanding of how to best manage their own urban forests.
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities’ Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities ...
Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees a... more Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees are often left behind during construction to become part of the future landscape. A study conducted in 1980 found that homebuilders in Portage County, Wisconsin, U.S. generally had a poor understanding of how construction activities could impact the health of trees intended to be preserved. Researchers replicated that study 27 years later by surveying homebuilders in the same region to see how their tree preservation knowledge and use of construction activities have changed during that time. The results indicate few construction activities changed significantly, showing that little has changed overall to improve tree preservation. Even though builders significantly improved their knowledge of the negative effects that storage of fill soil on roots poses to tree preservation, they also significantly increased usage of that very same activity. Builders almost never consulted a tree preserva...
ACADEMIC) While the practice of managing trees in and near human settlements has been around for ... more ACADEMIC) While the practice of managing trees in and near human settlements has been around for most of human history, urban forestry has only been organizing as a discrete profession since the mid-1960s. As a relatively new profession, urban forestry lacks much of the structure and organization seen in other professions. This study will contrast urban forestry against other professions to identify strategies for improving recruitment into urban forestry, collaboration with other professions, and career opportunities. Civil engineers, landscape architects, and urban planners (the allied professions) work together to plan and manage the urban environment, but urban foresters report difficulties integrating into or collaborating with this group diminishing their ability to influence urban forest management decisions. Allied professionals were surveyed on their usage of professional support mechanisms (e.g., certification) and their perception of professionalism in urban forestry. We ...
Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees a... more Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees are often left behind during construction to become part of the future landscape. A study conducted in 1980 found that homebuilders in Portage County, Wisconsin, U.S. generally had a poor understanding of how construction activities could impact the health of trees intended to be preserved. Researchers replicated that study 27 years later by surveying homebuilders in the same region to see how their tree preservation knowledge and use of construction activities have changed during that time. The results indicate few construction activities changed significantly, showing that little has changed overall to improve tree preservation. Even though builders significantly improved their knowledge of the negative effects that storage of fill soil on roots poses to tree preservation, they also significantly increased usage of that very same activity. Builders almost never consulted a tree preserva...
In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits t... more In the United States, urban forests represent 35% of all urban land cover, and deliver benefits to nearly two-thirds of the population. As global urban populations continue to rise, however, redevelopment is continually reported as a major factor in reduced canopy cover. While urban trees provide us with measurable benefits when adequately maintained, their costs when not cared for remains poorly understood. In order to safeguard the benefits that urban forests provide, municipalities have begun to introduce ordinances with the intention to protect and manage trees within their community. The aim of this study was to better understand the condition and survival outcomes of residential trees intended to be preserved through a municipal tree preservation ordinance. The results of this study found that a comprehensive tree preservation ordinance can successfully protect tree and soil health during and after residential development occurs. This is evident through an overall preservation rate of nearly 75%, having found no correlation between proximity to newly developed foundation and observed tree condition or mortality, and the discovery of healthy soil compaction levels within tree protection areas and the critical root zones of preserved trees. Collaborative research as demonstrated by this project can help both academics and professionals gain a better understanding of how to best manage their own urban forests.
Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over ... more Municipal forestry programs in the United States have been the subject of dozens of surveys over the past 40 years that offer valuable insight into what is occurring now and act as a point of reference in the future. Researchers surveyed home-rule municipalities (pop. 5,000 or greater) in Texas, U.S. to assess the commonality of the components of a municipal forestry program, municipal spending on urban forestry, and amount of assistance received from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Spending on urban forestry in Texas cities averaged USD $4.88 per capita overall. Basic tree ordinances, tree boards, non-profit tree advocacy groups, and proactive maintenance cycles were all fairly common. Urban forest management plans and tree inventories were very uncommon. About 70% of municipal forestry programs are housed in their cities' Parks and Recreation Department, with the majority of the remainder occurring in their Public Works Department. The level of assistance received by municipalities from the Texas A&M Forest Service is consistent with the budget priorities and mission statement of that organization, which focuses on delivering technical and educational assistance over financial assistance. A lack of recent national trends to compare against greatly hampers understanding the efforts of Texas municipalities relative to other states. However, identifying current trends in Texas offers value to the Texas A&M Forest Service to understand the effect of their service delivery strategy. Urban foresters and city managers can also use these results to compare themselves against their peers, a common practice in setting municipal budgets and policy.
Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees a... more Building new homes on wooded lots is common in the upper Midwest, United States. Existing trees are often left behind during construction to become part of the future landscape. A study conducted in 1980 found that homebuilders in Portage County, Wisconsin, U.S. generally had a poor understanding of how construction activities could impact the health of trees intended to be preserved. Researchers replicated that study 27 years later by surveying homebuilders in the same region to see how their tree preservation knowledge and use of construction activities have changed during that time. The results indicate few construction activities changed significantly, showing that little has changed overall to improve tree preservation. Even though builders significantly improved their knowledge of the negative effects that storage of fill soil on roots poses to tree preservation, they also significantly increased usage of that very same activity. Builders almost never consulted a tree preservation expert and thought doing so was the least important activity when making tree preservation decisions. Interest in a tree preservation training workshop was limited. Unless pressured by consumer demand or regulation, builders will probably not improve their tree preservation knowledge, change their construction activities, or include tree experts anywhere in the process.
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