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Cecil C Konijnendijk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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women in Urban Forestry and arboriculture experiences barriers and strategies for leadership
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2019Co-Authors: Adrina C Bardekjian, Cecil C Konijnendijk, Lorien Nesbitt, Barend T LotterAbstract:Abstract Urban Forestry and arboriculture are male-dominated industries. Although women have experienced current and historical marginalization in these industries, recent years have seen more young women embrace opportunities and pursue careers in these fields. In order to understand and enhance women’s participation in Urban Forestry and arboriculture, this research assesses the current status of women’s participation in these industries, barriers they have experienced, and strategies used to overcome these barriers and promote women’s leadership. A total of 515 women working in Urban Forestry or arboriculture in Canada and the United States completed an online survey consisting of Likert-type, multiple-selection, and open-ended questions. Sixty percent of respondents reported unequal workplace treatment by gender, 74% had experienced sexist behaviour or harassment, and 84% had experienced workplace barriers that were gender-based. The frequency of inequitable experiences varied according to socio-demographic factors. Discrimination was the most commonly-experienced barrier, followed by family responsibilities, promotion bias, and the gender pay gap. Open-ended responses, which provided additional context, also varied according to socio-demographics. The top five strategies suggested to promote women’s leadership were sponsorship/mentoring, confidence, communication, work-life balance, and career planning, with suggestions varying by barrier experienced. This research presents much-needed initial insights into women’s experiences in Urban Forestry and arboriculture, with a focus on barriers to equity and strategies to overcome them. It is intended to begin a larger conversation on gender-based equity in these fields and points to areas for future research.
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a comparative perspective of Urban Forestry in belgrade serbia and freiburg germany
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2011Co-Authors: Ivana Guduric, Jelena Tomicevic, Cecil C KonijnendijkAbstract:Abstract As in many countries after periods of political unrest and with unstable economical conditions, Urban woodland and green spaces are becoming prioritized in the last decade in Serbia. This stands in stark contrast to countries like Germany, where there is a long history of integrating Urban green space in Urban development. Looking through the lens of Urban Forestry, this paper compares the status, planning and management of Urban woodland in the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the German city of Freiburg. Holding up the difficult situation in Belgrade to the good-practice case of Freiburg allows the identification of status, problems and potentials for development. Both cases of Urban Forestry were analysed by a series of methods, including expert interviews, on-site observations, and analysis of documents, literature and maps. Results indicate that in Belgrade institutions and policies of Urban woodland management have being much less developed than in Freiburg. Furthermore, Belgrade faces various problems that need to be solved, e.g. in terms of developing the policy framework for Urban Forestry and the need to promote political awareness about its importance. Important lessons can be learnt from the experiences of cities like Freiburg.
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reviewing eight years of Urban Forestry Urban greening taking stock looking ahead
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2010Co-Authors: Peter Bentsen, Christian A Lindholst, Cecil C KonijnendijkAbstract:Abstract Since its launch in 2002, the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (UFUG) has welcomed research from a range of disciplines and perspectives, with the aim of enlarging the body of knowledge on topics related to use, planning, design, values, and establishment of Urban and peri-Urban woody and non-woody vegetation. Here, we present a review of all scientific contributions published in the journal's first eight volumes (159 in all), and provide suggestions for improving the future content of UFUG. A framework for review was developed based on the journal's Aims and Scope, which set out the journal's ambitions related to, e.g. scientific diversity and international scope. The journal's achievements until now were assessed by analysing all scientific contributions for type of paper, type of green space, research theme, type of science, research method(s), and nationality of first author. Our review shows that the large majority of the contributions have been research papers. Regarding type of green space studied or considered, the overall green structure, woodland, as well as trees have been well covered, with parks having been studied much less. When looking at research themes, UFUG's envisaged variety of topics is evident. The physicality of green space, green space management, and the experience of green space have been given most attention, with less attention for valuation and governance aspects. Most UFUG contributions have been rooted in the social or natural sciences, with about one fifth of all papers involving more than one discipline, and the humanities being almost absent. Scientific diversity can also be seen from the wide range of research methods applied. The journal lives up to its international scope, with a large number of countries present. However, most first authors have been based in Europe and North America, with the USA and Scandinavia being particularly dominant. For the further development of the fields of Urban Forestry and Urban greening, it is important that UFUG helps foster scientific debate and advancement. This will require greater focus on review papers, meta-studies, short communications, and on theoretical and methodological issues in general. Thematically, several relevant topics within Urban Forestry and Urban greening, such as organisational aspects of green space management, could be given more attention. Also, normative issues such as the common understanding of ‘green’ as something inherently ‘good’ need to be addressed more critically.
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assessment of Urban Forestry research and research needs in nordic and baltic countries
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2007Co-Authors: Cecil C Konijnendijk, Jasper Schipperijn, Anders Busse Nielsen, Yngve Rosenblad, Heldur Sander, Mikk Sarv, Kirsi Makinen, Liisa Tyrvainen, Janis Donis, Vegard GundersenAbstract:Abstract A review of research and research needs in Urban Forestry was carried out in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden during 2005. A questionnaire addressing post-2000 and ongoing research was sent to 146 researchers and generated 76 completed questionnaires. Universities were found to lead Urban Forestry research, while municipalities headed funding organisations in terms of number of projects funded. Planning, ecological and management aspects were the most common research themes, but socially oriented research also played an important role. The research needs questionnaire was sent to 192 key research actors (assignors, users and researchers), resulting in 63 completed needs assessments. The research themes of ‘Urban forest management’, ‘social and cultural values’ and ‘Urban forest and green planning’ were prioritised for future research. Comparison of ongoing research and research needs showed discrepancies, as ongoing research does not always cover the same themes identified as primary research needs. Priorities for future research as identified by the research community respective those assigning and using research also differed. Economic assessment of benefits, for example, scored much higher as a need among researchers than other respondents. In terms of present weaknesses in the research ‘infrastructure’, research actors emphasised lack of funding, fragmentation of research and insufficient critical mass. The region's Urban Forestry research can be enhanced and made more meaningful by strengthening national and international networking within the research community, across disciplines, as well as between researchers and those commissioning and using research.
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communication between science policy and citizens in public participation in Urban Forestry experiences from the neighbourwoods project
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2007Co-Authors: Gerben Janse, Cecil C KonijnendijkAbstract:Abstract The demand for sound scientific information and public participation is particularly great in Urban Forestry. Urban society's manifold perceptions, preferences and demands for Urban forest goods and services need to be considered, indicating the necessity for socially inclusive planning processes. Successful policies can only be formulated by establishing close links with, for example, Urban planning and municipal policies. Inherently, this means that close ties between research and policy are required. This article discusses the outcomes of the NeighbourWoods research and development project in which a wide range of tools for public participation were tested in six Urban woodland case-studies across Europe. A distinction was made between characteristics of the specific participatory tools and those of the communication process between the facilitators (scientists) of the participation process and the end-users of information (local policy-makers). Public willingness to participate depends on factors such as existing controversy, emotions attached to the forest, and perceived dangers, e.g., in terms of threats to the status quo. Policy makers’ willingness to involve themselves depends on political interests, on prior experience with public participation processes, and on their trust in the facilitators of the public participation process. Findings confirm that a set of tools comprising a step-wise process from informing the public in an attractive way, collecting information on public opinion, towards fully participatory approaches such as direct involvement in decision-making is most likely to ensure socially inclusive planning. Communication with policy-makers requires a high degree of openness, clearly explaining every phase of the process, being open about each other's expectations, in short, by developing relationships based on mutual trust.
Francisco J Escobedo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trends in Urban Forestry research in latin america the caribbean a systematic literature review and synthesis
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2020Co-Authors: Camilo Ordonez Barona, Tahia Devisscher, Cynnamon Dobbs, Luis Orozco Aguilar, Mariana Dias Baptista, Nuria Monica Navarro, Demostenes Ferreira Da Silva Filho, Francisco J EscobedoAbstract:Abstract Research on Urban forests has expanded in the last 30 years in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Nonetheless, Urban Forestry has been explored to much less extent in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, despite being one of the most Urbanized and biodiverse regions in the world. We address this gap by providing a baseline understanding of Urban forest research in the region based on a systematic review of the academic literature. Of the 55,000 studies found, 195 were selected for review, and 182 were analysed and synthesized. These studies came from 13 countries and were published from 1970 to mid-2018 (inclusive) in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Almost half of the studies were based in Brazil, followed by Mexico and Chile. To comparatively assess article output by country, we accounted for country population and Brazil, Chile, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico had higher than average per capita article output. Most articles were ecological studies (64%) that used field surveys (58%) to research Urban vegetation diversity. Most ecological studies did not include any social or management considerations. Only a few studies focused on spatiotemporal dynamics (12%) or the direct opinions of stakeholders (9%). We observed a notable increase in article output from the region during the last decade. The units of analysis targeted by these studies mostly focused on single trees in public areas (streets and parks). Understanding Urban forests regionally could be strengthened by scaling up research across multiple units of analysis and across regional cities, which could provide a better understanding of regional spatiotemporal dynamics. To respond to current global trends and nurture regional strengths, research could also focus on a wider range of ecosystem services provided by Urban forests, and the relationship of Urban forests with poverty, crime, climate vulnerability, biodiversity loss, and social equity. These findings can inform key stakeholders in the region managing Urban forests and trees about research trends and gaps to be filled. This article shows that the region indeed has an important body of research in Urban Forestry that should be recognized in global assessments.
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Urban forests, ecosystem services, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions: Nexus or evolving metaphors?
Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 2018Co-Authors: Francisco J Escobedo, Vincenzo Giannico, Giovanni Sanesi, C. Y. Jim, Raffaele LafortezzaAbstract:Approaches and concepts nurturing interdisciplinary knowledge on Urban ecosystems have evolved over recent decades and adopted a series of metaphors, including Ecosystem services (ES), Green infrastructure (GI), and Nature-based solutions (NBS). Similarly, research and promotion of Urban forests (UF) and their multiple functions have recently grown as a means to address issues affecting Urban areas throughout the world. Regardless of the metaphor used, Urban Forestry has historically provided a common language, science-based practices, and experiences for planning and managing trees and green spaces in cities to provide such benefits. Therefore, we conducted a review of the literature to better understand the origin, trends, and evolution of these metaphors and their institutional and contextual interpretations. Relationships among terms, publication trends and the studies' countries of origin were then used to identify the nexus between Urban Forestry and these metaphors. We found that ES appears in 2006, GI in 2007 and NBS in 2015. Definitions based on seminal academic publications are now included in national-level policy instruments in several countries and regions. However, in terms of English language publications, the United States leads by a notable margin followed by China, larger European Union countries, Brazil, Australia, and Canada. Similarly, the North-South divide is evident in terms of scientific publication productivity and funding for this type of research. Science and evidence-based guidelines and solutions for integrating and implementing Urban Forestry practices and experiences are found in several international publications. We suggest that such metaphors, and their socio-political implications, are not as important as the inherent messages. Indeed, changes in both discipline and language are key for communicating the documented importance of Urban Forestry for enhancing human well-being. A set of criteria that could be adopted to guide the use of these and future metaphors is also presented.
Thomas B Randrup - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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defining Urban Forestry a comparative perspective of north america and europe
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2006Co-Authors: Cecil C Konijnendijk, Robert M Ricard, Andy Kenney, Thomas B RandrupAbstract:Abstract Urban Forestry is generally defined as the art, science and technology of managing trees and forest resources in and around Urban community ecosystems for the physiological, sociological, economic, and aesthetic benefits trees provide society. First mentioned in the United States as early as in 1894, the concept underwent a revival during the 1960s as a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the specific challenges related to growing trees in Urban environments. Later, Urban Forestry evoked the interest of scientists and practitioners in other parts of the world. However, harmonization of Urban Forestry terminology has been complicated by, for example, the involvement of different disciplines and translation difficulties. In many European languages, for example, the direct translation of ‘Urban Forestry’ relates more to forest ecosystems than to street and park trees. Efforts in North America and Europe defining ‘Urban forest’, ‘Urban Forestry’ and related terms are introduced. A comparative analysis of selected Urban Forestry terminology in both parts of the world shows that Urban Forestry has a longer history in North America, based on traditions of shade tree management. Moreover, Urban Forestry has become more institutionalized in North America. Urban Forestry in Europe has built strongly on a century-long tradition of ‘town Forestry’. In both parts of the world, definitions of Urban Forestry and Urban forest have become more comprehensive, including all tree stands and individual trees in and around Urban areas. Agreement also exists on the multifunctional and multidisciplinary character of Urban Forestry. These similarities offer opportunities for international harmonization of terminology.
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the concept of Urban Forestry in europe
2005Co-Authors: Thomas B Randrup, Cecil C Konijnendijk, Michele Kaennel Dobbertin, Renate PrullerAbstract:This book provides a comprehensive perspective on the status of Urban Forestry with a primary focus on Europe. Before addressing various aspects of Urban Forestry, the applied terminology and definitions should be discussed. This is especially of relevance as the concepts of Urban forests and Urban Forestry are relatively new and subjects of ongoing debate. The chapter examines the concept of Urban Forestry from three related aspects. It starts with a general introduction about the use of concepts, definitions and terms in natural resource management and Forestry. It then briefly summarizes the development of the Urban Forestry concept, as well as its definition in a North American context. Next, the implementation and use of the concept in Europe is discussed. As the concept and definition of Urban Forestry still evoke debate, especially regarding their delimitation from other related terms, the chapter ends with proposing a possible framework for a European definition of Urban Forestry.
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Urban and peri Urban Forestry in a development context strategy and implementation
Journal of arboriculture, 2004Co-Authors: Cecil C Konijnendijk, Syaka Sadio, Thomas B Randrup, Jasper SchipperijnAbstract:Sustainable Urban development requires providing a healthy and sustainable living environment with basic services for all. A healthy and multifunctional Urban green structure is one of the basic services to provide. Urban and peri-Urban Forestry (UPF), focusing on the tree-dominated part of Urban and peri- Urban greenspace, is a strategic, integrative, interdisciplinary, and participatory approach. Its goal is to sustainably develop the multiple benefits of forests and trees in Urban environments. Recently, UPF has found broad following across the world, but its potential for cities and towns in developing countries is unreal- ized. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has developed a mid-term strategy for promoting and developing UPF as a component of sustainable Urban develop- ment, with emphasis on developing countries. This paper introduces this strategy, which aims at raising awareness, developing state of art, generating new technology and knowl- edge, strengthening institutions and policy, disseminating information and knowledge, and enhancing sustainable UPF. Examples of successful UPF programs from both the developing and developed world are presented. Key Words. Urban and peri-Urban Forestry; sustainable development; Urbanization; developing countries; Food and Agriculture Organization.
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selection of trees for Urban Forestry in the nordic countries
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2003Co-Authors: Arne Saebo, Thorarinn Benedikz, Thomas B RandrupAbstract:Abstract Trees in the Urban environment are subjected to a number of stresses which are very different from those suffered by trees in typical rural conditions. The stresses listed in this paper should be a basis for the selection criteria used in Urban tree improvement programs. The basic properties of trees are climatic adaptation, disease resistance and a large phenotypic plasticity. Properties related to the Urban situation are related to stresses caused by social factors, the restrictive soil volume and crown space, soil pollution, air pollution, de-icing salt, wind and drought. In addition, aesthetic factors, growth form and growth potential and resistance to breakage of limbs are important selection criteria. The priority ranking of the selection criteria depends on the environment wherein the plants are to be used. The need to broaden the range of species and cultivars planted in Nordic cities should have high priority, and selection programs should, therefore, include new species of Urban trees. A practical selection should be made within the four major Nordic climatic regions, which are the northern maritime, northern continental, southern maritime and southern continental regions. The establishment of broad co-operation in the selection of plant materials for Urban uses is discussed.
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higher education on Urban Forestry in europe an overview
Forestry, 2002Co-Authors: Frode Andersen, Cecil C Konijnendijk, Thomas B RandrupAbstract:Summary In order to meet the demands of modern, information-based society, higher education in natural resource management needs to be transformed. Enhanced mobility of students and staff, multi- and transdisciplinary approaches, as well as innovative educational approaches are called for. Moreover, the Urban component needs to be better incorporated, as exemplified by the emerging field of Urban Forestry. This paper relates to the developments in higher education within the context of education on Urban forests and Urban trees in Europe. Presented here are the main findings of a comparative European study led by the Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute within the framework of the EU-funded COST Action E12 ‘Urban Forests and Trees’. In order to obtain an overview of the status of higher education on Urban Forestry in Europe, 180 educational institutions in 28 countries were sent a questionnaire. Results show that Urban Forestry is an expanding element of European education, as Urban elements are becoming incorporated in higher education on natural resources. Urban Forestry is primarily taught as a part of educational programmes in related disciplines rather than at a more integrative level, dealing with all elements of Urban green structures. Student numbers in Urban Forestry programmes and courses are still relatively small. High staff-to-student ratios seem to facilitate the use of a wide range of educational approaches and methods. Higher education in Urban Forestry involves a broad range of disciplines and tries to find ways of incorporating natural and social science approaches. Together with the general trend towards internationalization in education, this calls for better co-operation between educational institutions, nationally and internationally.
David B Kittredge - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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measuring Urban Forestry performance and demographic associations in massachusetts usa
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2011Co-Authors: David Rines, Brian Kane, David B Kittredge, Dennis H P Ryan, Brett J ButlerAbstract:The United States Forest Service measures successful management of the Urban forest by the number of communities that have achieved some or all of four parameters described by the Community Accomplishment Reporting System. The four parameters address whether a community has: (1) a management plan, (2) professional staff, (3) Urban Forestry ordinances/policies, and (4) an advocacy/advisory organization. We surveyed tree wardens in the Massachusetts’ communities to determine how many communities met each parameter, as well as other indicators of Urban forest management. Nearly all responding communities met 1 performance parameter, but only 15% met all 4 parameters. Communities with greater population were more successful in achieving the parameters than those with smaller population.
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Urban Forestry priorities of massachusetts usa tree wardens
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2010Co-Authors: David Rines, Brian Kane, H Dennis, P Ryan, David B KittredgeAbstract:As part of a survey we sent to tree wardens (individuals responsible for public trees) in communities in Massachusetts, USA, we examined which Urban forest management tools and activities were most important to tree wardens themselves. Tree wardens generally agreed that inter-departmental communication and Chapter 87 (a state law promulgating the powers of a tree warden) were more important than having a qualified tree warden, an advocacy/advisory group, or a management plan (measures recognized by the USDA Forest Service in the Community Accomplishment Reporting System). Nearly all tree wardens prioritized removing dead and hazard trees. We discuss management implications of our results, paying particular attention to the importance of state laws in supporting Urban forest management.
Tenley M Conway - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Beyond ‘trees are good’: Disservices, management costs, and tradeoffs in Urban Forestry
Ambio, 2020Co-Authors: Lara A. Roman, Tenley M Conway, Theodore S. Eisenman, Andrew K. Koeser, Camilo Ordóñez Barona, Dexter H. Locke, G. Darrel Jenerette, Johan Östberg, Jess VogtAbstract:The provision of ecosystem services is a prominent rationale for Urban greening, and there is a prevailing mantra that ‘trees are good’. However, understanding how Urban trees contribute to sustainability must also consider disservices. In this perspective article, we discuss recent research on ecosystem disservices of Urban trees, including infrastructure conflicts, health and safety impacts, aesthetic issues, and environmentally detrimental consequences, as well as management costs related to ecological distUrbances and risk management. We also discuss tradeoffs regarding species selection and local conservation concerns, as well as the central role of human perception in the interpretation of ecosystem services and disservices, particularly the uncritical assertion that ‘everybody loves trees’. Urban Forestry decision-making that fails to account for disservices can have unintended negative consequences for communities. Further research is needed regarding life cycle assessments, stakeholder decision-making, return-on-investment, and framings of services and disservices in Urban Forestry.
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representation of local Urban Forestry issues in canadian newspapers impacts of a major ice storm
Canadian Geographer, 2017Co-Authors: Tenley M Conway, Murtaza A JalaliAbstract:Urban forests are socio-ecological systems where residents play a major role due to the number of trees located on residential property. A better understanding of residents’ relationship with Urban trees is needed to illuminate system dynamics and evaluate management strategies. Residents receive information about trees from a variety sources, including local news media, but the influence of local news media on residents’ interactions with Urban trees has not been considered. This article examines newspapers’ framing of Urban forests, focusing on if and how the framing changed as a result of a major storm that highlighted Urban forest disservices. To do this, we analyzed articles from the Toronto Star, Mississauga News, and Brampton Guardian for a two-year period surrounding the 2013 ice storm. Our results indicate newspapers use a variety of ecosystem service and disservice themes in their Urban forest coverage, but after the ice storm there was an increase in the number of themes represented in the average article and a shift to more frequent use of disservice themes. The results highlight the unique contribution of news media to Urban Forestry discourse, and the impact a weather event can have on the way Urban forests are framed. La representation des enjeux locaux de foresterie urbaine dans les journaux canadiens : les effets d'une forte tempete de verglas Les forets urbaines sont des systemes socioecologiques dans lesquels les residents jouent un role majeur, etant donne le nombre d'arbres sur les terrains prives. Le rapport que les residents entretiennent avec les arbres urbains doit etre mieux compris afin d'eclairer la dynamique des systemes et d'evaluer les strategies de gestion. Les residents disposent de nombreuses sources d'information au sujet des arbres, y compris les medias d'information locaux, mais l'influence de ces derniers sur les interactions des residents avec les arbres urbains n'a pas encore ete etudiee. L'objet de cet article porte sur le cadrage des forets urbaines dans les journaux, en explorant tout particulierement les changements de cadrage a la suite d'une forte tempete qui a fait ressortir les nuisances des forets urbaines. Pour y parvenir, nous avons mene une analyse des textes publies au cours d'une periode de deux ans dans le Toronto Star, le Mississauga News et le Brampton Guardian au sujet de la tempete de verglas de 2013. D'apres les resultats obtenus, ces journaux abordent divers sujets tant a propos des services ecologiques que de leurs nuisances dans leur couverture de la foret urbaine, mais apres la tempete de verglas, on constate que les textes tendent a aborder davantage de sujets et mentionnent plus frequemment les nuisances ecologiques. Les resultats mettent en evidence l'apport particulier des medias d'information au discours sur la foresterie urbaine et les consequences d'un evenement meteorologique sur le processus de cadrage des forets urbaines.
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willing partners residential support for municipal Urban Forestry policies
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2014Co-Authors: Tenley M Conway, Elizabeth BangAbstract:Abstract Cities across North America are adopting ambitious goals to grow their Urban forests. As existing trees and new planting opportunities are often located on private property, residents’ support and participation is needed in order to meet these goals. However, little research has examined support for municipal Urban Forestry efforts, including policies specifically targeting residential areas. The objectives of this research are to (1) assess resident’ level of support for common Urban Forestry policies and (2) determine if there are specific household characteristics associated with different levels of policy support. The objectives are addressed through a statistical analysis of survey responses and a qualitative examination of follow-up interviews with residents in four neighborhoods located in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). The survey participants and their properties vary in their socioeconomic characteristics, age of development, and Urban forest conditions. Our results found that the majority of residents had neutral to very positive attitudes toward common municipal policies encouraging planting and restricting removal of trees, but support levels were lower for the policies than for general statements about desired presence and size of Urban trees. Several characteristics are significantly related to level of policy support, including age of household members, education-level, property-level tree density, recent tree planting activity and age of house. Interviews also highlighted residents’ apprehensions about living among tall trees and older resident's concerns with tree maintenance. The results suggest that most residents would be willing partners in Urban Forestry efforts, with many of these residents already actively planting and maintain trees. However, to increase support and participation rates, different types of trees – including those smaller in stature and ones that require relatively little maintenance – should be part of any planting program to meet the varying needs of households.
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community groups and Urban Forestry activity drivers of uneven canopy cover
Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011Co-Authors: Tenley M Conway, Tooba Shakeel, Joanna AtallahAbstract:Abstract Urban forests provide a range of environmental, social, economic and health benefits, but because the distribution of canopy cover is uneven across many metropolitan areas, there is unequal access to the benefits. While recent work has documented the socioeconomic factors correlated with uneven distributions – including neighborhood wealth, presence of renters, and different ethnocultural groups – less attention has been paid to the ways local actors foster such inequalities. This paper explores the Urban Forestry activities of two types of community groups (business improvement areas and resident associations) in the Greater Toronto Area (Ontario, Canada), to begin to fill the gap in our understanding of the influence local actors have on Urban forest patterns. Specifically, we explored (1) the types of Urban Forestry-related activities these groups conduct and (2) the relationship between a group's level of involvement in Urban Forestry and neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, basic group characteristics, and its municipality's Urban Forestry program. The results indicate business improvement areas’ activity levels are primarily related to the municipal setting. On the other hand, the extent of resident associations’ activities are correlated with median household income, percent of owner-occupied dwellings and type of housing, suggesting that resident associations may be supporting the uneven distribution of the Urban forest. The paper ends with a discussion of the motivators and limiters associated with the community groups’ Urban Forestry activities.
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variations in municipal Urban Forestry policies a case study of toronto canada
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2007Co-Authors: Tenley M Conway, Lisa UrbaniAbstract:Abstract Urban forest conditions are driven by a range of biophysical and social factors, including Urban form, socioeconomic conditions, and municipal policy. However, relatively little attention has been paid to policies, particularly those aimed at private property. The purpose of this study was to identify the types of Urban tree policies that exist in the Greater Toronto Area, begin to understand why those variations may occur, and determine if such variations lead to on-the-ground differences. To address these objectives, we conducted a survey to identify policies covering the planting and removal of privately owned trees, as well as publicly owned trees along roadways in 29 municipalities. The results of the survey were then compared to census and vegetation abundance data to determine the relationship between municipal characteristics, level of policy adoption, and on-the-ground differences. We found substantial variation in the type of policies in place, with regulations addressing tree protection on private property occurring only in larger municipalities. The existence of on-the-ground differences was less clear, possibly because of the relatively recent adoption of most policies. These results highlight the need to assist smaller municipalities in developing Urban Forestry policies and to monitor these policies’ influence over the long term to better understand their role in shaping the Urban forest.
