Jamestown Community College named Tree Campus USA college; Jamestown, NY

JCC named Tree Campus USA college - ObserverToday.com News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Dunkirk The Observer:
The Arbor Day Foundation has announced that Jamestown Community College is a 2009 Tree Campus USA college for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
JCC is the first community college in New York to be named a Tree Campus USA college. JCC's Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses and North County Center are included in the designation.Bard College and Cornell University were the other New York state schools named to the Tree Campus USA list.
Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.
The effort to obtain the National Arbor Day recognition was led by JCC biology faculty members Jan Bowman and Becky Nystrom, certified arborist Lori Brockelbank, and JCC students Jay Card, Jonathan Willow, Matthew Lerow, Allison Carey, and Alyssa Skinner.

Middlebury College uses Google Earth to share campus tree map; Middlebury, VT

Campus Tree Map updated « The Middlebury Landscape:
I’ve posted a new export of the campus tree map Google Earth file, on the Campus Tree map page. I’ve added quite a few more campus trees to it, and the official count now stands at 2279. There are a couple of more locations I would like to map, and quite a few more pictures I’d like to find the time to take. This iteration, though, is pretty close to complete.
I risked the potato chips in the keyboard, brushed off my math skills, and starting looking at our tree population in Excel over lunch(es). I’m no spreadsheet guru, but the information I pulled out is interesting, and tells me we’re pointed in the right direction in our urban forest here.

FIU earns state’s first Tree Campus USA designation; Miami-Dade, FL

FIU earns state’s first Tree Campus USA designation News at FIU - Florida International University:
With a native pigeon plum tree festooned with blue and gold ribbons serving as the backdrop, university and environmental leaders gathered Feb. 23 at Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) to celebrate FIU’s newly earned status as a Tree Campus USA university.
FIU is the first university in Florida to earn the coveted designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. The initiative was spearheaded by Biscayne Bay Campus faculty, administrators and students and moves forward the work of the university’s Sustainability Committee.

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith recognized by Arbor Day Foundation as Tree Campus USA; Fort Smith, AR

UA Fort Smith News, UA Fort Smith:
The dedication of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship has resulted in its designation as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University by the Arbor Day Foundation.
UA Fort Smith is the first higher education institution in Arkansas to be named a Tree Campus USA University.
UA Fort Smith’s application was submitted by Alison Litchy of Fort Smith, the university’s urban forester. The application provided the Arbor Day Foundation with information on the purpose of UA Fort Smith’s tree care plan and outlined practices and processes used in selection and care of the various species found on campus.
Litchy said attaining the status as the first Tree Campus USA in Arkansas shows the university’s commitment to protecting, caring for and adding trees to the campus.

Conference presentation: Tree growth modeling to improve tree size and canopy coverage predictions; Virginia Tech, VA

Tree growth modeling to improve tree size and canopy coverage predictions — Emerging Issues Along Urban-Rural Interfaces:
Municipalities use ordinances and zoning to ensure that tree canopy cover is replenished during land development. Many localities have refined their regulations to enforce their long-term canopy cover goals, requiring developers to plant trees to provide minimum canopy cover for the project site within a specified period of 15 to 30 years. To fulfill site plan requirements, developers specify tree planting densities based on anticipated canopy growth during the attainment period. However, these calculations are typically based on observations of trees growing in non-limiting environments such as nurseries and arboreta, which are not representative of typical urban conditions. Urban conditions are oftentimes very heterogeneous due to the great degree of disturbance providing various soil conditions ranging from adequate to unacceptable. Hence, tree size predictions cannot be generalized for all planting sites and designs and have to be based on research resulting in models that include the factors that significantly influence tree growth.

The Arbor Day Foundation honored the University of South Carolina Upstate as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University; Spartansburg, SC

USC Upstate:
Spartanburg, S.C. - The Arbor Day Foundation honored the University of South Carolina Upstate as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors college and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA is supported by a grant from Toyota.
USC Upstate met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are establishing a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body. USC Upstate’s Landscape Services department was also required to submit a detailed inventory of trees, which included 131 species of trees in 59 genera.

Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia named a 2009 Tree Campus USA University; Philadelphia, PA

LTSPMedia: LTSP named a 2009 Tree Campus USA University:
LTSP named a 2009 Tree Campus USA University
The Arbor Day Foundation has honored The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) as a 2009 Tree Campus USA university for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.

LTSP is the second higher education institution in Pennsylvania to be named a Tree Campus USA University.

“The Tree Campus USA program will have a long-lasting impact at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia as it engages seminarians and local citizens to plant trees and create healthier communities for people to enjoy for decades to come,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The seminary will benefit from exceptional tree-care practices on campus as it works with tree-care professionals in the community to improve the tree canopy in Philadelphia.”

University of Alaska Anchorage Named 2009 Tree Campus USA University by the Arbor Day Foundation; Anchorage, AK

UAA Named 2009 Tree Campus USA University by the Arbor Day Foundation The Northern Light:
UAA has been honored once again.
In early January, the Arbor Day Foundation named UAA as one of 2009’s Tree Campus USA Universities for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
“The Tree Campus USA program will have a long-lasting impact at the University of Alaska Anchorage as it engages college students and local citizens to plant trees and create healthier communities for people to enjoy for decades to come,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, in a press release. “Alaska Anchorage will benefit from exceptional tree-care practices on campus as it works with tree-care professionals in the community to improve the tree canopy in Anchorage.”
Tree Campus USA is a national program that recognizes collegiate institutes that promote healthy urban forest management and engage the campus community in environmental stewardship. In order to receive a Tree Campus USA award, the university must meet five required core standards: the establishment of a campus tree advisory committee, have evidence of a campus tree-care plan, the verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan, be involved in an Arbor Day observance and institute a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.

City drafts new rules for tree protection during construction, forms partership with UW-Madison to assess tree canopy; Madison, WI

Good news for Madison's urban forest - Isthmus The Daily Page:
Madison Ald. Marsha Rummel says it's about time. The city of Madison is now drafting new rules requiring the protection of trees during construction and levying fines for violations.
'It's better because it's going to be upfront, and the expectation is that everybody is there to protect trees,' says Rummel of the new policy, which will likely be presented to the city's Board of Public Works next month.
Meanwhile, an auspicious new partnership between the university and the city forestry department has the potential to increase the total amount of city tree cover and eventually help improve lake water quality by reducing runoff.

High Point University recognized by National Arbor Day Foundation as Tree Campus USA; North Point, NC

High Point University © 2010:
High Point University has been honored as a 2009 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship – the fifth university in the state to be given this designation.
'High Point University continues to be dedicated to the enhancement of the campus and seeks to maintain a learning environment complimented by a diverse landscape. Our faculty, staff, students, and donors along with landscape designers, local garden clubs, scientists, and others joined together to make our dream of a campus arboretum a reality,' says Dr. Nido Qubein, president of HPU. 'HPU wants to ensure that our campus will be protected, enhanced, and stand as a symbol of our commitment to nurture the gifts of nature. The Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are significant and highly visible residents of the High Point University campus while greatly impacting the quality of life of our campus and community.'

Virginia Tech to undertake investigations to improve knowledge and management of forest resources in urbanized areas; Blacksburg, VA

Investigations to Improve Knowledge and Management of Forest Resources in Urbanized Areas - VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE:
The goal of this project is to improve knowledge and management of forest resources in urbanized areas. In pursuit of this goal, investigations will be conducted to achieve the following objectives: (1) examine ecophysiological function of urban forests and biophysical constraints to urban forest productivity; (2) investigate arboricultural practices that influence urban tree establishment, growth, health, and safety; (3) analyze urban forest structure, function, and value with emerging inventory and geospatial technologies. This project will be conducted during a five-year period commencing in December 2009. Expected benefits of the proposed project include: (1) increased knowledge about urban forest soils and their influence on landscape tree performance; (2) improved arboricultural techniques for tree maintenance; and (3) better understanding of urban forest extent and composition at the municipal scale. The research and technical outcomes of the proposed project will have broad impacts on urban forest science and management, and ultimately urban society. Numerous researchers are investigating the subjects described above in specific contexts across the country. As the results of the proposed research are synthesized with the work of others, new concepts and practices will emerge that advance urban forestry and improve urban environments.

UVM Spatial Analysis expert completes UTC analysis of mid-Atlantic cities, gets awards from Virginia and Germany for UTC analysis work

The SAL, in conjunction with the Virginia Dept. of Forestry received a bronze medal from the Association of Natural Resource Educational Professionals (ANREP) for our urban tree canopy work in Virginia.

The SAL recently completed tree canopy assessments for the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Howard County, Maryland.

The City of Bowie, Maryland is establishing an urban tree canopy goal based on an assessment conducted by the SAL and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, RSENR Geospatial Analyst, gave a presentation on "Mapping the Green Infrastructure" at the 2009 eCognition User Meeting in Munich, Germany.

Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, RSENR Geospatial Analyst, received an award from 1986 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Gerd Binnig in recognition of his expertise employing the object-based image analysis techniques developed by Dr. Binnig to advance the understanding of urban ecosystems.

Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, RSENR Geospatial Analyst, gave a workshop on object-based image analysis techniques for extracting information from high-resolution remotely sensed data at the 2009 AmericaView fall technical meeting at the USGS EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

Del Mar College's Integrated Geospatial Education & Technology Training program offers course on Urban Tree Canopy analysis

Topic: Urban Environmental Management


Urban Tree Canopy

Problem Statement: Cities are heat islands for capturing carbon dioxide from a concentration of vehicles and buildings.

Urban forests help mitigate those effects. Can we quantify some of those effects using remote sensing imagery?

Level: beginning

Software: ArcGIS, ENVI, Powerpoint, Word

Valuation of Tree Canopy on Property Values of Six Communities in Cincinnati, OH

Author: Dimke, Kelley C.
Description: The value of the urban forest as a component of the urban environment is significant. Environmental benefits of the urban forest include improved air quality, energy conservation through reduction of heating and cooling costs, climate moderation, flood control, reduction in noise levels and wildlife habitat. The urban forest also provides many social benefits. Studies have shown that trees reduce stress and improve the physical health of urbanites. Financial support for urban forestry in many cities is on the decline. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact trees have on property values of six communities (Bond Hill, Carthage, Clifton, Hyde Park, Kennedy Heights and North Avondale) of varying socio-economic levels in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tax assessor records were obtained from property sales between the years 2000 and 2005. One hundred sites were randomly selected from each of the six communities. Data were collected from each site during the winter as well as the summer months. Dominant genus, caliper of dominant genus, estimate of tree cover, and overall property maintenance were recorded. Using the hedonic method of cost benefit analysis it was determined that each percentage increase in tree cover added $783.98 to the property value. The average value of tree canopy across the 600 sites is $20,226 or 10.7% of the sale price of the home. The findings from this research will be useful to Urban Forestry Departments in their requests for funding.

WSU profs tackle the thorny question: Are natives the answer?

Last week Jeff kicked off a lively discussion about invasive plants. Let me state up front that no one on this blog is promoting invasive plants. But the issues surrounding invasive plants are extremely complex and have profound implications for many groups with whom we work in landscape horticulture and urban and community forestry. It is essential in these discussions that we separate fact from hyperbole. In some quarters, lines have been blurred and people fail to make key distinctions and lump exotic, alien, or non-native species together with invasives. According to the Federal Executive Order on Invasive species 'Invasive species' means an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. All invasives are alien but only a small fraction of alien species are invasive (all humans are mammals but not all mammals are humans). Nevertheless, there is a temptation to ‘hedge all bets’ and promote only native species for horticultural planting since native plants, by definition, cannot be invasive. In addition, there is a ‘feel good’ aura that surrounds native plants – if they’re native they must be good – that clouds some of the logic in the argument.

Bartlett arborist gets to root of Macon State’s tree problem; Macon, GA

Arborist gets to root of Macon State’s tree problem - Local & State - Macon.com:
Workers from Bartlett Tree Experts in Tucker spent hours Wednesday using air guns to aerate the soil underneath oak trees planted in the late 1960s.
After losing much of their canopy to the tornado, the trees have lost the ability to feed themselves, said Tyler Baxter, an arborist and Bartlett employee.
Baxter said aerating the roots and replacing mulch with manure will give the trees a better growing environment.
The work is being funded by a $20,000 grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Urban & Community Forestry Grant program, according to a news release.

Under the grant’s terms, the Macon State College Foundation is providing matching funds.
Derrick Catlett, a groundskeeper at the college, said the campus lost an estimated 95 percent of its tree canopy, including about 3,900 trees to the tornado.
Catlett said workers have given priority to many of the oldest trees on campus, many planted when the college was first established.

UVA Planning students release Green Lands report for Staunton-conserve tree canopy for ecosystem services among recommendations; Staunton, VA

Planning students release Green Lands report for Staunton newsleader.com The News Leader:
After a semester of studying Staunton's natural resources, the U.Va. Green Lands class has finished its study and recommendations for the city.

The class goal was to study the green infrastructure within Staunton and recommend ways to preserve and enhance it. The full report is available for download at the right.Recommendations
Conserve and enhance habitat for native wildlife by conserving larger forested landscapes within Staunton’s city limits.

Conserve and restore urban tree canopy to improve air and water quality and to reduce pressure on stormwater infrastructure.

University of Florida researchers issue report on Gainesville's urban forest, land cover; Gainsville, FL

FOR 215/FR277: Gainesville's Urban Forest Canopy Cover:
In 2006, 93 random sites were sampled and measured across Gainesville, Florida using the USDA Forest Service's Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) methods (http://www.ufore.org/). Crown measurements, tree species, land use conditions, shrub characteristics, and surface cover information were used to determine the urban forest cover and total leaf area in Gainesville. Leaf area, as estimated by the UFORE model, is the sum of all tree leaf surfaces. Urban forest canopy cover is the proportion of land surface area that lies directly beneath the crowns of all trees and tall shrubs. Urban forest includes all trees on private and public lands within the city limits of Gainesville.
Results indicate tree cover in Gainesville at 51 percent while shrub cover, often present under trees, was 16 percent. Pervious surface cover (bare soil, lawns, gardens, pastures) was 73 percent, impervious surface cover (concrete, roads, tar) was 15 percent, and buildings covered 9 percent of Gainesville. In addition to tree and shrub cover, information on surface covers can help planners and other professionals assess the potential for positive or negative environmental effects such as the ability of areas to infiltrate excess rainfall or identify areas that can be sources of excess stormwater runoff.

Campus grove that witnessed graduation of more than 1,000,000 students at risk from pressures of land use, resources, weather; Lawrence, KS

‘Green space’ on campus is endangered Kansan.com:
On the northern slope of Mount Oread, near the Campanile, sits more than a hundred 40-foot tall, sturdy walnut trees; their black trunks are a stark contrast to the green grass that envelops them during the summer.
Rushing to class, students often miss this forest rooted in the heart of campus. But Marvin Grove has stood timeless amidst the rapid changes around it for more than 100 years.
It has seen the turn of two centuries and the veterans of both world wars. It witnessed the civil rights rallies that threatened to tear the University in two. And on the sidelines of graduation hill, the grove stood by as more than 1 million students leave the University behind in pursuit of their futures.
The roots of these trees go almost as deep as the University itself, anchoring the grove in the institution’s past and its present.
But weather, age and development are endangering the existence of the grove and other natural space on campus.

Sustainable Design Student Outlines Plan for Increasing the City of Chicago’s tree canopy; Chicago, IL

Steven can plan » Increasing the City of Chicago’s tree canopy:
The assignment: You are on a team working with the City of Chicago on increasing the City’s tree canopy from just under 15% to 25%. What would you recommend? Please bear in mind that most city staff feel that they have covered most city owned land and that to reach the goal they will have to get private landowners to plant the trees. How can we get them to do this? What types of parcels present opportunities?
The class: Sustainable Development Techniques
I’ve identified four parcel types that present opportunities to increase the City of Chicago’s tree canopy from 15% to 25%.
1. Existing surface parking lots, both private and public
2. New surface and multi-level parking lots, both private and public
3. Schools, both public and private
4. Condemn private lots