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For some volunteers, neighborhood safety is one of the reasons for becoming involved in community greening. For example, many volunteers of the Community Greenspace program at the Urban Resources Initiative in New Haven, Connecticut believe that there is a potential reduction in crime from community greening activities, even though it is not an explicit goal of the program. These types of community-led interventions are distinct from both existing tree canopy and large-scale municipally led initiatives. These types of interventions remain understudied with respect to the potential for reducing crime. We therefore used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences (DID) approach to test whether more than a decade of street tree planting (1996–2007) in New Haven had an effect on crime levels at planting sites (n = 300) compared to control sites that received no Community Greenspace-planted trees (n = 893). We examined violent, property, and misdemeanor crimes (comprised of vandalism, prostitution, and narcotics crimes) individually and jointly to test for crime-type specific effects, while controlling for sociodemographic factors and spatio-temporal trends. In general, we found a null relationship between trees planted and crime on block faces per year at the p < 0.05 level. Increases in crime were not observed on treatment sites. We discuss implications for tree inventories and monitoring, study design, and techniques to assess impacts of tree planting efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological impact of invasive tree pests is increasing worldwide. However, invasive tree pests may also have significant social costs. We investigated the association between the emerald ash borer (EAB)—an invasive tree pest first discovered in the US in 2002—and crime in Cincinnati, Ohio. We used a natural experimental approach, and compared crime (in 11 classes) on census block groups infested with EAB with crime on block groups not infested with EAB between 2005 and 2014. We accounted for demographic and biological differences between infested and un-infested block groups using propensity-score weighting. EAB infestation was significantly and positively associated with relative increases in crime in all but four crime categories. Our results suggest that invasive tree pests may be associated with social costs worth considering when managing invasive species. By extension, healthy trees may provide significant social benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is designed to capture stormwater for infiltration, detention, evapotranspiration, or reuse. Soils play a key role in stormwater interception at these facilities. It is important to assess whether contamination is occurring in GSI soils because urban stormwater drainage areas often accumulate elements of concern. Soil contamination could affect hydrologic and ecosystem functions. Maintenance workers and the public may also be exposed to GSI soils. We investigated soil elemental concentrations, categorized as macro- and micronutrients, heavy metals, and other elements, at 59 GSI sites in the city of Philadelphia. Non-GSI soil samples 3 to 5 m upland of GSI sites were used for comparison. We evaluated differences in elemental composition in GSI and non-GSI soils; the comparisons were corrected for the age of GSI facility, underlying soil type, street drainage, and surrounding land use. Concentrations of Ca and I were greater than background levels at GSI sites. Although GSI facilities appear to accumulate Ca and I, these elements do not pose a significant human health risk. Elements of concern to human health, including Cd, Hg, and Pb, were either no different or were lower in GSI soils compared with non-GSI soils. However, mean values found across GSI sites were up to four times greater than soil cleanup objectives for residential use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Firearm violence is a complex issue and no single policy will resolve it. • By reducing more than 5% in incidents, vacant lot remediation plays a robust role in controlling firearm violence. • Cost savings from lowering firearm crimes can recover between 9% and 23% of greening expenses. Our objectives were to synthesize the early evidence regarding the effect of city-wide vacant-lot remediation programs on firearm violence and to determine what proportion of remediation costs are recovered from reducing firearm violence. Building on our scoping review, we conducted a meta-analysis of before-and-after studies with control groups. We then assumed three hypothetical cities of small, medium, and large populations and performed a probabilistic benefit-to-cost analysis over 30 years. Eight studies met our eligibility criteria. Interventions included mowing (n = 3), greening (n = 5), and gardening (n = 2), with two studies examining two different interventions. The pooled effect size did not show reduction in firearm violence by mowing vacant lots. However, greening and gardening interventions reduced firearm violence by 5.84% (95% CI: 7.89–3.79%) and 5.34% (95% CI: 7.74–2.93%) respectively. Greening programs were the most cost-effective intervention and cost savings from reducing firearm violence can recover an estimated 8.17% (95% CI: 8.11–8.23%), 10.20% (95% CI: 10.12–10.28%), and 21.06% (95% CI: 20.90–21.23%) of intervention expenses, equating to the net annual per capita costs of $64.53 (95% CI: $64.09–$64.96), $51.88 (95% CI: $51.53–$52.25), and $30.97 (95% CI: $30.73–$31.22) in the small, medium, and large cities respectively. While vacant lot remediation programs can play a robust role in controlling firearm violence at lower per capita costs than law enforcement polices, cost savings from reducing firearm crimes by itself does not recover all program costs. However, health and environmental benefits of such programs can offset the greening and maintenance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Researchers are beginning to take notice of amenity migration processes and their impacts in exurban areas of the U.S. Our research explores second-home owners as contributors to processes of amenity migration. Using a mixed-method approach combining spatial data and interview analyses, we investigate both the structural and behavioral aspects of amenity migration in San Juan and Okanogan counties of Washington State. Results indicate that second-home owners’ desire for privacy and escape is reflected in patterns of spatial isolation among second homes in the study area. These patterns have potentially significant ecological effects. Second-home owners also seek to protect their investments by supporting regulations which support their version of a rural idyll. Therefore, policy-makers should be wary of strategies to promote regulations which promote aesthetic rather than social and ecological function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]