Search

Research shows that exposure to the outdoors is beneficial to children and can improve the learning experience for students. The Kids in the Woods program in Gainesville, Florida provides 6th grade students with opportunities to learn science through a series of outdoor activities during their regular science classes. The article reports on an evaluation of the Kids in the Woods program. We surveyed parents/guardians of students participating in the program to examine the impacts of the program and to better understand parent/guardian perceptions of the program and of outdoor learning in general. Results indicate that parents/guardians observed positive changes in their children and had largely positive perceptions of outdoor learning and the Kids in the Woods program. Lessons learned and recommendations for using parent surveys as a tool in program evaluation are discussed.

Copyright of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry is the property of International Society of Arboriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A recent shift in desires among working professionals from traditional learning environments to distance education has emerged due to reductions in travel and training budgets. To accommodate this, the Natural Areas Training Academy replaced traditionally formatted workshops with a hybrid approach. Surveys of participants before and after this change indicate that a traditional in-person format was preferred in the past, but a hybrid format is preferred now. Respondents indicated the new format is more effective at providing highly desired benefits than the traditional face-to-face approach. These findings have implications for many Extension programs targeting working professionals across large geographic areas.

While many practitioners and scholars understand the risks associated with low urban tree diversity, they often lack the ability to rectify this challenge on their own. The complex system of tree production and procurement is shaped by market pressures, nursery and site constraints, local governance, and differing professional objectives among those who grow, specify, and plant trees. To understand constraints to and opportunities for increasing urban tree diversity, we conducted a series of focus groups comprised of nursery growers, landscape architects, and municipal tree managers. Our results highlight a significant list of considerations and constraints to diversity, with some issues shared among green industries and some specific to growers or purchasers. In light of our findings, we outline actionable strategies for increasing urban tree diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use and land-cover (LULC) change is a primary driver of terrestrial carbon release, often through the conversion of forest into agriculture or expansion of urban areas. Classification schemes are a key component of landscape analyses. This study creates a novel LULC classification scheme by incorporating ecological data to redefine classes of an existing LULC classification based on variation in above-ground tree carbon. A tree inventory was conducted for 531 plots within a subbasin of the Tampa Bay Watershed, Florida, USA. Above-ground tree carbon was estimated using the i-Tree model. Plots were classified using the Florida Land Use Cover Classification System. Mean quantities of above-ground tree carbon, by class, were tested for statistical differences. A reclassification was conducted based on these differences. Sub-classes within a given "land cover" class were similar for six of the seven classes. Significant differences were found within the "Wetlands" class based on vegetation cover, forming two distinct groups: "Forested Wetlands" and "Non-forested and Mangrove Wetlands". The urban "land use" class showed differences between "Residential" and "Non-residential" sub-classes, forming two new classes. LULC classifications can sometimes aggregate areas perceived as similar that are in fact distinct regarding ecological variables. These aggregations can obscure the true variation in a parameter at the landscape scale. Therefore, a study's classification system should be designed to reflect landscape variation in the parameter(s) of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of land-use and land cover (LULC) change on above-ground tree carbon (AGTC) in a subbasin of the Tampa Bay Watershed, Florida. LULC change was integrated with AGTC to project future quantities under three landscape scenarios: baseline, increased and aggressive rates of development. A 12% increase in total landscape AGTC occurred from 2006 to 2011 as agriculture and rangeland were converted to residential, infrastructure and built classes. Scenario projections for 2016 show an additional increase of 11% AGTC under baseline change, 15% under increased development and 18% under aggressive development. These results suggest that residential expansion may cause an increase in AGTC storage as agriculture and rangeland areas are replaced. However, as agriculture and rangeland disappear, LULC change patterns could shift, with residential expansion replacing upland and wetland forested areas causing a long-term decrease in AGTC. These results show that biomass of the tree component of AGTC can be significant, in and of itself, for urban classes and provide insights into its role in AGTC dynamics for these systems. This information can also help decision-makers identify areas as potential carbon sources or sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overstory, midstory, understory/regeneration and groundcover data were collected in over 37,000 nested plots from 73 Florida state parks and 15 ecoregions. • Most communities that were supposed to have pine in the overstory did. • Midstory was primarily dominated by non-pines; mainly deciduous hardwoods. • Pine seedlings and saplings were scarce. • Overstory hierarchical clustering grouped some of the similar community types within ecoregions in the same group/subgroup but midstory and regeneration clustering produced mixed results. Plot based forest/vegetation data is used to establish current conditions and inform natural resources management decisions. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) manages 175 state parks. As part of its mission, DRP strives to restore landscapes and natural communities by reintroducing dynamic natural processes such as fire. DRP also uses other methods of active management to achieve desired future conditions (DFCs) in multiple communities including those characterized by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) and native groundcover (GC) species. To meet the challenge of managing natural resources across the State, DRP initiated an objective and repeatable forest/vegetation inventory system. The primary objective of this paper was to analyze and summarize the resultant data and compare current community type (ComType) vegetation conditions. Current conditions were quantified using nested plots distributed within sample areas across 73 state parks and 15 ecoregions via the line-plot method. Over 37,000 plots were inventoried; 36% were in pine flatwoods. Ten actively managed and dominant ComTypes were central to this paper and when aggregated by ecoregion, 76 ComType by ecoregion (CTER) groups were examined. Descriptive statistics for various measurements, e.g., diameter at breast height, height, and density, were calculated for overstory, midstory and understory (vegetation layer) separately per CTER. Mean importance value index (IVI) was calculated by species or species-group per vegetation layer and CTER. Community classification was conducted via hierarchical clustering of CTERs per vegetation layer using mean IVI scores. Across CTERs, pine overstory and midstory abundance/stocking levels were generally low, non-pine overstory and midstory stocking levels were high, pine regeneration was sparse, and GC was dominated by leaf litter, pine straw, and non-pine woody seedlings. Results strongly suggest that some ComTypes were similar within certain ecoregions. Various pine species are considered dominant or one of the prominent overstory species for eight of the ten ComTypes. The ability to manage upland pine ComTypes using natural regeneration systems will become increasingly challenging in the near- to medium-term given relatively low overstory pine stocking for most CTERs, and the virtual lack of young pines within midstory and understory layers. Further investigations could help identify potential causal agents concerning low young pine stocking levels, e.g., timing and frequency of prescribed fires, frequency of logging, and/or increased competition from high densities of midstory non-pines and appropriate natural regeneration systems, e.g., seed tree, shelterwood, or group selection, or underplanting longleaf pine, that would accelerate understory pine recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree ordinances can be an effective means of preserving urban forests in the face of development pressures. Despite this, they also have the potential to be divisive among the public - especially when applied to privately-owned land. In this study we surveyed 1716 Florida urban residents to understand how they value regulation and management of the urban forest. Specifically, we asked about: tree protection ordinances, incentive programs to manage or plant trees, justification for tree removal, and development. Most respondents supported tree protections, even when applied to trees on their own property or when they had the potential to limit development activities. Additionally, there was limited support for removing healthy trees for development. Respondents supported the use of funds for urban forestry efforts – particularly at the local or state level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Choice of method for handling uncertain data affected model accuracy and drivers. • Random Forests (RF) and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) had similar accuracy. • RF and GLM identified different drivers of storm damage. • Imputing uncertain observations resulted in lower accuracy than excluding them. • GLMs showed greater variation than RF when damage proportion was altered. Research that illuminates causes of urban forest storm damage is valuable for planning and management. However, logistical and safety concerns often delay post-storm surveys in urban areas; thus, surveys may include observations with unverified sources of damage. While this uncertainty is often ignored, it can make up a high proportion of the number of damaged trees. The goal of this research was to improve understanding of techniques for modeling storm damage in urban forests. Using urban forest storm damage inventories collected in Florida, post-Hurricane Irma (2017), we tested how different imputation methods, modeling procedures, and damage frequency levels could impact overall model results. We utilized machine learning algorithms Random Forest (RF) and k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and generalized linear models (GLM). We found that GLM and RF models gave overall unbiased predictions of damage across all methods and rarity levels, while KNN consistently under-predicted damage. Damage frequency influenced some measures of performance but did not impact variable significance. Imputation methods all identified consistent variables of most significance within each model procedure; however, there was variation among variables ranked moderately important. While both GLM and RF models identified plot tree basal area as highly significant damage predictors, they otherwise disagreed on individual variable importance. These findings suggest that while explanatory models for urban forest storm damage can be achieved by examining linear relationships, more complex relationships such as the ones identified by RF models can have equal explanatory power with different subsets of predictor variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems have received global attention lately as a strategy for carbon mitigation but still are one of the least studied systems. This study was conducted in south Florida to develop biomass equations for windbreak grown cadaghi ( Corymbia torelliana) trees and to estimate biomass in various aged windbreaks. Trees were selected for destructive sampling based on diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution from five windbreaks. Crown biomass was estimated using randomized branch sampling (RBS) and trunk biomass by taking disks every 1.5 m along the stem. Separate nonlinear equations were developed for crown, trunk and whole tree biomass estimation using DBH and height as predictors. Results indicated that DBH alone was sufficient to predict aboveground biomass, but including height in the models gave better results. Average oven-dry whole tree biomass ranged between 6 and 935 kg for 2- and 20-year-old windbreaks. Oven-dry whole tree biomass per100 m windbreak length in the same windbreaks ranged between 166 and 26,605 kg. Because fast-growing cadaghi is efficient and can produce significantly more biomass in a short period versus other windbreak species, landowners can expect higher returns from biomass or carbon trade over a shorter period, where available, to offset the cost of land occupied by the windbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of various anthropogenic factors on urban soil properties in subtropical, coastal Tampa, FL, USA. Specifically, we explored the influence of (i) urbanization as measured by land use, land cover, population density and years since urban development and (ii) socioeconomic conditions as reflected in household income and property values on bulk density (BD) and several key soil chemical properties. Results indicate that Tampa's urban soils were affected to varying degrees by these factors with chemical properties being more variable than BD. Across land uses significant differences were found for Mehlich-1 (M1) extractable P, Ca and Na. A similar trend was observed for land-cover classes, although significant differences were also found for pH and M1-Cu. Soil properties had no statistically significant relationship with population density. However, time since urbanization did with M1-P and Na varying significantly across age categories. For our socioeconomic analyses, M1-K and Mg levels differed significantly by household income while pH, P, Ca and Na values differed significantly by property value. Overall, our findings indicate that despite their inherent heterogeneity, there are identifiable patterns among subtropical coastal urban soil properties. We suggest that a more thorough understanding of these patterns and their drivers is an essential first step towards developing soil management strategies aimed at maintaining environmental quality and ecosystem services in subtropical cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban areas in Florida were revisited after Hurricane Irma to assess storm damage. • Tree characteristics more important than physical and sociodemographic context. • Tree damage was influenced by tree diameter, wind firmness, and species diversity. • Non-stationarity in model results suggests importance of spatially-explicit data. While often considered "open grown," urban trees are often found in relatively close proximity to neighboring trees, buildings, and other elements of urban infrastructure. These spatial arrangements may provide wind protection during severe weather events such as hurricanes. Beyond this very local scale, urban tree abundance and condition are often influenced by the greater sociodemographic context of the neighborhood or community where they are found. In an effort to assess the impact of these external factors on wind firmness after Hurricane Irma impacted Florida in 2017, we revisited three urban areas that had previously been inventoried using sample plots prior to the storm. At each plot we assessed storm damage and characterized surrounding protective elements (i.e., buildings and other trees) using a combination of ground-based and aerial approaches. This was then paired with block group level sociodemographic data derived from the United States Census. Logistic regression results confirmed previous research, showing that partial and whole tree failure were significantly more likely with a larger stem diameter (p = 0.001) and perceived/previously documented lower wind firmness (p = 0.004). However, our results disagreed with previous studies linking species diversity and resilience, showing tree failure was significantly more likely with higher Shannon Diversity Index (p = 0.008). A comparative geographically weighted logistic regression model also found that the higher proportions of African American residents and Hispanic residents, and the median age of residents were significant predictors of less likely tree failure in 30 %, 36 %, and 20 % of plots, respectively. However, this evidence was weak, compared to that of tree- and plot-level effects. Despite being a key predictor of interest, we did not see any significant protective effect from neighboring trees or structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities actively manage their urban trees in an effort to increase canopy coverage, manipulate species and size distributions, and maximize associated environmental and social benefits. As development is one of the most significant factors limiting tree abundance and health, many local governments have enacted policies or ordinances which attempt to reduce tree loss during construction activities through preservation or replacement requirements. Recently, the state of Florida passed a state statute which significantly limits local government oversight of trees on private residential properties – a land use type which can often account for the majority of a municipality's urban forest. In this study, we accessed ordinance databases to assess the potential impact of this law on urban forest governance in Florida's 300 largest cities (by population). We also surveyed urban tree managers in the largest 150 cities to assess the range of strategies being developed to function under this new political normal. Ordinances that regulate the removal of urban trees were the most likely to be impacted by the new state legislature and were in place in 46% of the communities assessed. Despite this, very few responding cities had changed their ordinances to comply with the new statute – though several indicated such changes were in progress. Other changes in policies and ordinances ranged from maintaining business as usual to actually investing more into urban forest management through increased inventory and management plan activities. • Documents the recent state preemption of local tree protections in Florida (United States). • Shows the range of strategies employed by communities in dealing with this loss of local authority. • Brings to light an emerging threat to local tree protections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Natural regeneration was highly heterogenous in a wet flatwoods ecosystem. • Gap size did not significantly affect regeneration density or size. • Group opening positions farther than one tree height from the border had higher regeneration densities. • Central and southern positions in gaps were regeneration hot spots. • Shrub cover was positively associated with slash pine regeneration. Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in managing and restoring southern pine stands using uneven-aged silvicultural strategies, that rely on natural regeneration. Group selection harvests are regarded as an effective approach to induce natural regeneration and convert pine plantations to uneven-aged stands. In a wet flatwoods site in north-west Florida, we characterized natural regeneration (density, size, spatial distribution, hot spots) of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Englm.) eight years following group selection harvests and one year following prescribed fire in mature slash pine plantations. Our study utilized a long-term, operational scale experiment consisting of circular harvest group openings of four different sizes (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 ha), each replicated three times. In all group openings, we stem mapped all regeneration > 1.37 m in height and measured their diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height. We also estimated understory shrub cover in the group openings. Overall, slash pine regeneration response was highly variable across group opening sizes and ranged between 150 (in 0.1 ha group openings) to 670 stems ha−1 (in 0.8 ha group openings). On average, 468 ± 105 (mean ± standard error) stems ha−1 were found in the group openings. Group opening size had no significant effect on regeneration density or size (ɑ =0.05). Position within group opening, however, had a significant effect on regeneration density and height, with higher density occurring in group opening centers and taller stems in northern positions. Shrub cover decreased with increasing group opening size and was lowest in northern positions. Dense shrub cover (60–100%) was associated with greater regeneration density. The areas with dense shrub cover appeared to have escaped prescribed fire and experienced lower seedling mortality. Spatial point pattern analysis showed aggregation of regeneration for all group sizes across all distances. Regeneration hotspots were mostly central and southern positions in group openings. Earlier observations of our study suggest that the group selection harvesting may be a suitable approach to regenerate slash pine and add an age-class (regeneration cohort) to even-aged stands in wet flatwoods sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Canopy coverage ranged from 17.6% to 63.3% (mean 33.7%) in the 43 Florida communities studied. • Increased housing density was associated with decreased canopy coverage (P -value = 0.0116). • Heritage tree ordinances were associated with a 6.7% increase in canopy (P- value = 0.0476). Many cities around the world have set ambitious urban tree canopy cover goals, with the expectation that urban forests will provide ecosystem services as functional green infrastructure. Numerous studies have examined intra-city spatial patterns in urban tree canopy (UTC) and found that UTC relates to socioeconomic indicators and urban form. Additionally, a few studies have shown local regulations can be linked to increased tree cover. However, the relationship between UTC and governance across different cities has not been well-explored. To address this gap, we compared the management practices enacted by 43 municipalities in Florida (United States) to investigate their potential impact on tree canopy coverage. UTC was assessed through visual interpretation of aerial images. We used multiple linear regression to predict inter-city variation in UTC based on 1) municipal forestry management practices, including whether the municipality had an arborist, tree ordinances, a municipal tree inventory, and a canopy cover goal, and 2) community sociodemographic data. UTC ranged between 17.6% and 63.3% among the municipalities assessed, with an average UTC of 33.7%. Two factors significantly predicted canopy coverage. Housing density had a negative relationship with tree canopy (P -value = 0.0116). In contrast, municipalities with heritage tree protections had 6.7% more canopy coverage (P -value = 0.0476). Future research should continue to consider the potential impacts of governance structures on the spatiotemporal dynamics of inter- and intra-city UTC patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]