Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Urbanization On Buff-Bellied Hummingbirds In Subtropical South Texas, John S. Brush, Timothy Brush, Alexis Racelis

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Urbanization and its associated processes affect wildlife in a variety of ways. Understanding how this increasing land use type affects biological communities is important for conservation efforts. Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are one taxon that has showed positive responses to varying intensities of urban development. We surveyed for Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis), a species on its northern range-limits, in urban woodlands, residential, natural, and revegetated habitats. We examined how urbanization is affecting Buff-bellied Hummingbird populations in South Texas with point-count surveys and GIS analysis. We found that Buff-bellied Hummingbirds had greater relative abundances in urban settings when compared with …

Motivations, Environmental Attitudes, And Personal Efficacy Of Volunteers At Communitree Tree-Planting Events In Northwest Indiana, U.S., Kaitlyn Pike, Rebecca Brokaw, Jess Vogt

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

In this paper, we examine the mechanisms of volunteering at tree-planting events conducted as part of a new, multi-organizational tree-planting effort in northwest Indiana called CommuniTree. A broad literature exists on general volunteerism as well as environmental volunteering, urban forestry volunteering, and even tree-planting volunteering. Yet, the motivations, environmental attitudes, and personal efficacy of urban forestry volunteers in particular are not fully understood, nor are the outcomes and implications of volunteer participation in neighborhood greening programs. A 22-question (34 individual items), self-report survey was administered in-person at CommuniTree tree-planting events in 2017 through 2019, obtaining 114 responses. CommuniTree volunteers who …

Using Urban Ecology As A Transdisciplinary Approach For Teaching English Learners, Elvira G. Armas, Magaly Lavadenz, Eric G. Strauss

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Teams from the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) and the Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) at Loyola Marymount University collaborated on multi-year projects to implement the Urban Ecology for English Learners Projects designed to implement a professional learning and curriculum model to explicitly engage students in experiences where they learn science content through investigations of their local schoolyards and neighborhoods while simultaneously advancing language and literacy skills. This partnership empowers educators to leverage the interdisciplinary science of urban ecology and resilience as a way to democratize access and opportunity for English Learner students in diverse urban settings.

Engaging New York City Volunteer Stewards Through Shifting Forest Management Goals, Nichole Henderson-Roy, Jennifer Greenfeld, Marit Larson

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) manages 7,300-acres of natural area forests by hands-on work of professional staff and volunteer stewards. Through NYC Parks’ Stewardship program, trained staff engage over 8,000 volunteers annually, many of them working in natural area forests removing invasive plants, planting, and formalizing trails throughout the city. Here we discuss the evolution of Parks’ community stewardship through a highly publicized tree planting campaign, the campaign’s conclusion and its newest approach to forest management.

Aligning City Forest Management By Engaging Community Partners In New York City, Helen M. Forgione

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

New York City contains 10,000 acres of forested natural areas, 8.5 million residents, and dozens of organizations dedicated to improving the condition of natural areas. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) manages the majority 7,300-acres of natural area forests through hands-on work and contracts overseen by the Division of Forestry, Horticulture and Natural Resources. Additional capacity to manage and steward NYC Parks’ forest resources is created through nurturing community organizations by the non-profit Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC). Here I discuss how NAC’s Conservancy Engagement Program is aligning forest management under NYC’s forest management plan to …

A River Runs By It: How Embracing A River Created Synergy For A Natural Areas Program And Interagency Environmental Education In Billings, Montana, Heather Bilden, Steven Mcconnell, Megan Poulette

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Billings, MT was established in 1882 concurrent with the newly arrived railroad, which displaced the Yellowstone River as the area’s economic engine. For a century, Billings was dominated by ranching, agriculture, mining and refining. As the only major city in 125,000 square-miles, it is now a hub of commerce, education, and medical services. It has recently become a center for natural resource agencies and NGOs. Demand for quality of life amenities and local expertise to provide them has contributed to the rediscovery of the river as an ecological and recreational gem. This interest has led to the development of a …

Leadership Learning Communities, Scientific Sustenance, And Adventures In Inspiration Feedback Loops In Baltimore, Maryland, Katherine J. Lautar

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

In 2012, three groups of neighbors from different Baltimore, MD communities reached out individually for assistance in cleaning up, protecting, and/or improving their community forests. In response, Baltimore Green Space (BGS) launched the forest stewardship network which included both neighbors and experts in forestry. The forest stewardship program hinges on cultivating resident interest, fostering collaborations, and conducting leadership development with community members, which involves over 300 neighbors in forest environmental engagements each year in 10-12 forest patches. BGS uses the term “environmental engagement” to describe a wide range of offerings that help to either educate the community about the environment …

Conservation Strategies For A Globally Imperiled And Hyper-Fragmented Ecosystem: Acquisition, Regulations, Incentives And Outreach In Miami Dade County, James Duncan, Jennifer Possley, Janet Gil, Craig Grossenbacher

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Pine rocklands are a globally critically imperiled ecosystem with limited geographic range, characterized by a high biodiversity of endemic herbaceous plants and frequent fire intervals (2-5 years). In Miami-Dade County, approximately 2% of the forest outside Everglades National Park (ENP) remains. The County adopted a forest property tax program in 1979, passed a forest preservation ordinance in 1984, and created a land acquisition program in 1991. Outreach and filling in the gaps between preservation areas are critical for the survival of a number of species.

Preservation, Regulations, And Policy To Protect And Grow Baltimore’S Forests, Ashley A. Bowers, Amy L. Gilder-Busatti, Katherine J. Lautar

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Organizations and city agencies in Baltimore, MD are working together to better protect forests and trees through a combination of preservation efforts, policies, and regulations. Non-profit Baltimore Green Space (BGS), Baltimore’s Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP), and Baltimore’s Office of Sustainability (BOS) have played major roles in this work. To further advance these efforts, a process is underway to propose new regulations that would better protect and mitigate impacts of development on trees and forested natural areas.

Outcome Oriented Policy: Protecting The Urban Forest Through Tree Preservation And Complementary Land Development Regulations In Austin, Texas, Keith W. Mars

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The City of Austin has some of the most progressive urban forest and environmental land development regulations in the country. The City directly protects trees and forested natural areas through tree preservation ordinances and indirectly through development restrictions on impervious cover, endangered species habitat, and limiting development in environmentally sensitive areas. This suite of regulations has contributed to an overall canopy coverage of 37% with much of that canopy preserved in perpetuity despite Austin being one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Organization And Support Of Long-Term Collaborative Relationships Between Private Citizens, Government Institutions And Universities To Conduct Inventories And Ecological Analyses Across The Tampa Bay Watershed; Development Of Strategic Plans For Forest Conservation; And Ongoing Support For Ecologically Based Management, Robert John Northrop

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Successful conservation of forested natural areas within a matrix of urban land uses requires an ongoing collaborative relationship between private citizens, their governments, and scientists. Such collaboration requires an understanding of the social values which drive political decision making, an understanding of the function and processes that govern the natural area, and ecosystem management.

Cross Sector Partnerships – Development Of The Chicago Region Trees Initiative, Lydia Scott, Karen Ann Miller, Joseph Mccarthy, Matthew Freer, Lindsay Darling, Melissa Custic

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) is a partnership of more than 200 organizations across the seven county Chicago metro region. The CRTI believes that trees are critical to our quality of life, and its mission is to ensure that trees are more healthy, abundant, diverse, and equitably distributed to provide needed benefits to all people and communities in the Chicago region. Our key goals are to inspire people to value trees, increase the Chicago region’s tree canopy, reduce threats to trees, and enhance oak ecosystems. The CRTI has built upon the work and programs of others, and the experience …

Leveraging A Non-Profit-Public Partnership To Meet The Needs Of Austin’S Urban Forest, Kirsten Schneider, Leslie A. Lilly

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The urban forest and natural areas of Lady Bird Lake receive over 4 million visitors each year and represent the heart of Austin’s downtown park system. Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) relies on a non-profit-public partnership with The Trail Foundation (TTF) to address the management demands of the ~200 acres of forested parkland surrounding the lake. This partnership provides a mechanism for prioritizing and funding the urban forestry needs of the area.

Restoration And Management Of High-Use Urban Missouri Woodlands And Forests In St. Louis, Amy L. Witt, Shawnell C. Faber, Alan R. Jankowski

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

St. Louis City’s urban woodland and forested natural areas were modified, degraded, and/or overly-mature habitats requiring management intervention for ecological health, species diversity, and public safety. To accomplish long-term success in Forest Park’s woodlands and forests, restorations and management strategies seeking to “treat the problem not the symptom” was implemented. The most important best management practices for Forest Park’s woodlands and forests included forest stand improvement, prescribed burns, invasive and non-native species management, creation of public stewards, and plant material supplementation.

Use Of Vegetation Monitoring And Professional Sharpshooting In White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Management At Eagle Creek Park In Indianapolis, Brenda S. Howard, Spencer A. Goehl, Michael A. Jenkins, Donald R. Miller, Jacob L. Brinkman

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

High white-tailed deer abundance at Eagle Creek Park (ECP) in Indianapolis necessitated active management to improve park habitat conditions. Significant deer impacts on local natural areas were first noted in the late 1990’s. Multiple years of deer browse monitoring, beginning in 2003, documented greatly impacted vegetation with heavy to severe browse damage in the park. After an initial managed hunt in 2014, population reductions have been accomplished exclusively at night by professional sharpshooters. Positive results are being evidenced through increasing pounds of venison per deer harvested and significant recovery of impacted vegetation communities.

Riparian Cottonwood Forest Restoration Along The Yellowstone River: A Featured Natural Area In Billings, Montana, Heather Bilden, Steven Mcconnell, Megan Poulette

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Across Montana, dams curtail annual spring floods, depriving riparian cottonwood forests of the regenerative disturbance processes that sustain them. Invasive plant species further disrupt plant communities and ecosystem dynamics. Billings, MT lies along the undammed and iconic Yellowstone River. Spring floods still drive ecosystem change, but invasive species prevent a return to a fully functioning natural ecosystem. Restoring a highly visible natural area adjacent to Montana’s largest city will provide abundant opportunities for education on disturbance regimes, invasive species, and ecosystem processes.

Natural Resource Monitoring Progression Of Forest Park’S Forested Natural Areas In St. Louis, Missouri, Amy L. Witt, Shawnell C. Faber, Alan R. Jankowski

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

St. Louis City, MO had 121 acres managed as woodland or forested natural areas: 98 acres in Forest Park and 13 acres in O’Fallon Park. In Forest Park, standardized Missouri forest vegetation monitoring plots were started in 1993 to develop and guide habitat management such as thinning, species richness development, etc. In 2018 and 2019, a holistic Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP) for Forest Park provided additional recommended metrics and monitoring, some of which have already begun implementation.

Monitoring Forest Restoration Activities In Nyc Parks, Kristen L. King, D. S. Novem Auyeung

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) owns 30,000 acres of property in New York City, 12,000 acres of this is natural areas, including 7,300 acres of forest. These forests have been monitored and managed since the Natural Resources Group was founded in 1984. The forests experience a variety of threats: some threats are a legacy of past land use and development, while others are continuous. Monitoring forest management practices has been occurring for decades and has taken many forms, including site-specific monitoring of restoration outcomes and system-wide monitoring to understand overall health and ecological trajectory. …

Evolution In Natural Area Monitoring At Indianapolis Parks, Brenda S. Howard, Spencer A. Goehl, Michael A. Jenkins

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The Indianapolis Land Stewardship (ILS) team’s first restoration was in 1992 with high school students planting acorns in a 13-acre field. Since then, managed acreage has increased to nearly 1,900 acres across 37 parks. ILS’ monitoring has evolved to meet the challenges of an expanding program. This is accomplished through improved GIS tracking and mapping techniques. Additionally, scientific survey work has broadened from initially a few vegetation surveys to now include longer-duration studies and other taxa for a more balanced and complete assessment.

Adaptive Silviculture For Climate Change In The Mississippi National River And Recreation Area, An Urban National Park In The Twin Cities Area, Minnesota, Mary C. Hammes, Leslie Brandt, Linda Nagel, Courtney Peterson, Marcella Windmuller-Campione, Rebecca A. Montgomery

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) Network is a collaborative effort to establish a series of experimental silvicultural trials across different forest ecosystem types. A variety of partners have developed trial sites as part of this multi-regional study researching long-term ecosystem responses to a range of climate change adaptation actions. We are currently implementing an affiliate trial within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a national park along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities Metro Area of Minnesota.

Climate Change Vulnerability And Response In Seattle’S Urban Natural Areas, Michael T. Yadrick Jr., Lisa A. Ciecko, Weston R. Brinkley, Andrea K. Mojzak

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) was originally conceptualized as a 20-year program to drive recovery of the city’s forested natural areas. Now in year fourteen of the restoration effort, Seattle Parks and Recreation, the lead agency for GSP, is undertaking an analysis of current ecological conditions using on-the-ground and remotely sensed data to better understand climate change exposures. This work helps build the program’s long-range perspective while offering immediate strategies to help the natural areas adapt to existing and anticipated environmental change.

Planning For Climate Change Through Riparian Restoration In Houston, Texas, Justin Bower, Jeremy Burkes, Kelli Ondracek

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The City of Houston faces a unique set of natural and developmental resiliency challenges that make it especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As part of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, the City is incorporating a suite of forestry practices. The City’s Riparian Restoration Initiative, which increases natural forest cover in riparian zones, helps address climate change, but also benefits other issues like flooding, water quality, air quality, and maintenance of natural areas. This approach provides a model for future integration of forestry practices into the City’s climate approach and other regional efforts.

Green Seattle Partnership Models Regional Urban Natural Areas Restoration Efforts, Andrea K. Mojzak, Lisa A. Ciecko, Weston R. Brinkley, Michael T. Yadrick Jr.

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) was launched in 2005 to create a model for urban forest natural area restoration in the Puget Sound region of western Washington. To date, thirteen other municipalities and one county have adopted the Green City Partnership model to utilize a 20-year strategic planning process to prioritize and guide natural area restoration programing. Initial planning work includes taking stock of the community and ecological resources and defining costs. Not all prioritization and planning efforts live in the strategic plan. During the fourteen years since the launch of the GSP, annual planning efforts have been responsive to …

The Value Of Strategic Planning To Prioritize Acquisition And Management Of Ecological Coordinators In An Urbanizing County – Hillsborough County (Tampa), Fl, Ross B. Dickerson, Shawn College

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

In response to sustained rapid development, which began in the 1960’s, the Florida Legislature passed the 1985 Growth Management Act. The Act required development of comprehensive land use plans for every county within the state. The comprehensive plans were required to have goals, objectives and policies aimed at, among other things, the conservation of vital natural resources.

Hillsborough County’s comprehensive plan established the Significant Wildlife Habitat Program. The program is applicable to large tracts and can only protect a portion of a landowner’s upland habitat at the time of development. Those habitats that were protected have become more isolated over …

Prioritization And Planning To Improve Urban Tree Health In The Chicago Region, Lydia Scott, Karen Ann Miller, Joseph Mccarthy, Matthew Freer, Lindsay Darling, Melissa Custic

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) has collected one of the largest data sets on urban forestry in the United States. This data informs where and how CRTI prioritizes its work and capacity building. This data has been incorporated into interactive online resources that communities and neighborhoods can access to help decision makers, landowners, and managers understand where and what to plant, the value of the urban forest, impacts of woody invasive species, heat island challenges, and where opportunities exist for oak ecosystem enhancement. This data helps CRTI and its partners to prioritize action.

Plant Community Assessment And Management Recommendations For Minneapolis Park Natural Areas, Marcia A. Holmberg, Debra L. Pilger, Jeremy R. Barrick

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

In 2017 the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) began a two-phase study to collect quantitative and qualitative data for urban park natural areas in Minneapolis, MN parks to inform management activities. The first phase took existing GIS data and quality ranking systems and tailored them to the Minneapolis park system. The second phase, which is still in process, involves field checking the data, applying the quality ranking system, and writing a management plan.

Too Precious To Lose: Managing And Protecting The Richmond Pine Rockland Tract (Richmond) In Miami Dade County, South Florida, Jennifer Possley, James Duncan, Janet Gil, Craig Grossenbacher

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Pine rockland is a globally critically imperiled ecosystem limited to the southern tip of Florida and nearby islands. Miami’s Richmond tract contains the largest American assemblage of pine rockland species. Competing interests challenge management in this fire-dependent ecosystem surrounded by urban development. In 2018, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Miami-Dade County updated a 1994 management plan, complete with best practices, new developments, current data and learned experiences. An analysis in Richmond indicated non-traditional areas provided habitat for endangered species.

Assessing Houston’S Forested Habitat, Justin Bower, Jeremy Burkes, Kelli Ondracek

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The City of Houston has a total of 380 parks totaling 35,742 acres. Approximately 16,000 of those acres are forested habitat, each totaling over an acre in size. A method for prioritizing and assessing these areas was first established in 2017 to determine management needs and funding requirements. Prior to this time, the priority had been given to street trees through a comprehensive inventory to support tree ordinance mitigation requirements. Additionally, in 2015 the US Forest Service collected data on the tree canopy cover and species composition of trees within the City of Houston, including both natural and urbanized areas.

Realizing The Potential Of Urban Forests: Forests In Cities Workshop Themes And City Case Study Descriptions, Clara C. Pregitzer, Sophie Plitt, Sarah Charlop-Powers

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Like all forests, forests in cities require resources, science, management, protection, and programming in order to achieve desired conditions. Yet, achieving the desired condition in an urban environment may require new approaches that account for the dynamic and complex nature of the urban setting. These decisions and actions are occurring at the city, park, or site scale. Unlike national parks, or wilderness areas that have a national or state budget, staffing structures, and regulations; forests in cities are regulated and managed primarily at the local municipal scale. This also makes the approaches to forest management planning and policy regulations tailored …

The Science And Practice Of Managing Forests In Cities: Introduction To The Special Issue, Sarah Charlop-Powers, Sophie Plitt, Clara C. Pregitzer

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The following special issue includes a practitioner note that provides context about Forested Natural Areas in cities and introduces eight themes that are explored in the 25 practitioner case studies. This publication is the product of a fruitful workshop that brought together leaders in the field of Forested Natural Areas management. The case studies document both widespread approaches that are being used in cities across the U.S., as well as innovation that is taking place in individual cities. The goals of both the workshop and this publication are to raise national awareness of urban forested natural areas, improve their management, …