The urban forest is very important to the citizens of Ohio because of the many benefits it provides and the demographic distribution of the population. Approximately 80 percent of Ohio’s citizens live in an urban metropolitan area, and this number is expected to increase. Residents of these urban areas will become increasingly aware of the benefits of trees to the overall urban landscape. Through enhancement of the urban forest, there is an opportunity to positively affect the quality of life of this growing segment of the population.
Trees provide important ecological benefits to urban areas. They produce oxygen; control dust; absorb the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide; act as noise buffers; and provide habitat for urban wildlife. Trees also serve a role in the water cycle by enhancing infiltration, reducing storm water runoff and preventing erosion and sedimentation of streams and other surface waters.
Urban forests also moderate the temperature extremes of city environments. Trees provide a cooling effect created by the shade and evaporation of water from leaves, thus reducing the heat island effect and air conditioning use in the summer. The sheltering effect of trees can also reduce energy consumption for heating in the winter. Both of these actions lower human production of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by reducing the demand for and combustion of fossil fuels.
The urban forest also provides economic and social benefits. Economically, trees and landscaping have been shown to add up to 20 percent to the value of individual properties. This translates into increased value of entire neighborhoods and cities and a resultant increase in tax base and the strength of local economies. As noted earlier, urban forest reduces energy consumption and individual utility bills. Additionally, a 1992 study showed that the arboriculture industry adds $205.6 million to Ohio’s economy each year.1
The social benefits of the urban forest translate into an increased quality of life. Areas with vital urban forest are preferred places to live, work or visit. There is a positive link between a vital urban forest and improved physical and mental health. Trees can also enhance recreational opportunities on parklands. Trees can be used as architectural elements to soften the human-dominated environment and unify otherwise unrelated architectural styles. The urban forest adds civic pride in communities that are recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA. In urban areas throughout Ohio, tree planting efforts can be the beginning of neighborhood involvement, citizen empowerment and activism. These social and economic benefits can also be viewed as key elements for inner-city revitalization
The urban forest ecosystem is made up of two elements: the physical and social. The physical elements include trees, shrubs, vines and other plants, soil air, and water. The social elements of the urban forest are the people, organizations and governments that affect the physical elements. The complex interrelationships and interactions between these elements require careful planning and management to achieve maximum benefits for a community. Proper urban forest management also enhances public safety.
Many different units and agencies of government influence urban forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service supports urban forestry initiative with staff and funding for state and local projects. At state level, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry provides professional consulting staff and competitive grants to local projects while Ohio State University provides extension support and educational opportunities in urban forestry.
City and local governments provide the hands-on staff and implementation efforts for urban forestry. Local government tree commissions provide citizen oversight and offer advice on program direction. Professional urban foresters use science, art and technical skills in forestry, arboriculture and other disciplines to comprehensively manage the urban forest resource.
Ohio municipalities planted an estimated 218,643 trees2 in 1999, pruned or otherwise maintained approximately 381,759 trees, and removed an estimated 69,814 trees. Extrapolating from a national survey3, there are an estimated 6,468 available tree planting sites along the streets of the average Ohio City.
Many different groups affect the urban forest, including: citizens, developers, utilities and local governments. These groups can have both positive and negative impacts on the resource. Through tree planting and maintenance programs, citizens can increase the scale and quality of the resource. They can also affect the attitude of fellow citizens and local government by appreciating and demanding trees as part of their environment. Citizens can also negatively affect the resource by unintentionally damaging trees or by creating an inhospitable environment for trees.
Real estate developers can enhance the urban forest resource by properly protecting and maintaining existing trees on a site, by planting trees in appropriate locations and by creating “tree friendly” environments such as open green space and wide tree lawns along streets. Conversely, developers can degrade the resource through deliberate or unintentional destruction of existing trees, or by creating an environment that is not conducive to tree growth. Site conditions such as compacted soil, small tree lawns or poor integration of the urban forest with other elements of the urban infrastructure (such as utility corridors) reduce tree health and service life.
Ohio utility companies, both government-and share holder – owned, have a stake in the urban forest as they spend approximately $87 million annually to prune and remove trees. Utilities can be positive influence on the resource by working with local governments and citizens to reduce conflicts between utilities and trees.
City and local governments can enhance the urban forest by integrating comprehensive urban forestry programs into the city infrastructure and municipal government. Failure to integrate urban forest management with other services often creates controversy or confusion and can result in a shrinking resource of ever lower quality.
Ohio’s state urban forestry program, within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, is considered one of the premier programs in the country and is often used as a model by other states. The program’s structure and relationship with municipal and local governments has been its key to success. Currently, six regional urban foresters offer advice on local shade tree ordinances, organizational and technical matters, and educational programs. Their role has been to act as a catalyst for local action to form or enhance comprehensive tree care programs.
One indication of the program’s success is that 222 Ohio communities have nationally recognized comprehensive urban forestry programs. This total leads the nation for the 18th consecutive year. These programs are honored annually with the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA award.
The Division of Forestry also coordinates the operation of the Ohio Urban Forestry Advisory Committee. Additionally, The Ohio State University has recently developed a model urban forestry curriculum and implemented an Urban Forestry major in the School of Natural Resources.
Public awareness of the urban forest resource has resulted in increased research efforts and program funding.
Many people are becoming aware of the benefits of the urban forest. This awareness can be used to recruit civic organizations as advocates for the urban forest and to spur action to develop and manage the resource. Further, there is an opportunity to develop new organizations dedicated to the urban forest and the global environment. School-age children can study urban forestry and environmental concepts as part of their environmental science curriculum. Existing educational programs, such as Project Learning Tree, which is supported by the Ohio Departments of Natural Resources and Education are available for use by teachers.Research projects from across the United States will benefit public officials in the management of the urban environment. For example, researchers in Chicago are investigating the influence of the urban forest on the total urban environment, while scientists at Ohio State University are seeking solutions to problems that plague the management of the urban forest. Research results applied to the urban forest will benefit the public, industry and government.
There are several issues that public officials need to be aware of so that solutions can be created.
Local Support - Many communities are not sufficiently integrating the urban forest into local infrastructures and municipal services. Additionally, may cities have not established professional management of the resource. As a result, citizens are not realizing the full potential benefits of the urban forest. Educating and encouraging local government officials and citizens to support comprehensive urban forestry programs through budget allocations and ordinances is a promising long-term solution to this problem.
Many small cities and villages lack the budget and purchasing power to efficiently manage their urban forest. One potential solution is to encourage urban forestry cooperatives among small cities and villages in order to create economies of scale.
Many local governments are still not aware that they have full legal responsibility for the safety of trees on public properties and rights-of-way. Municipal liability may not be passed to the adjacent landowner as some communities have attempted. However, communities may feel they do not have the financial resources to fully address their responsibility. To solve this problem, local communities must be educated regarding not only their opportunities but also their legal responsibility and liability in the urban forest. Municipalities already have the authority (Ohio Revised Code sections 727.01 to 727.01) to finance street tree programs through a special assessment should other funds be unavailable. Local residents must understand the value of investing in urban forest management if adequate financial support is to be achieved.
State Support - Currently, staff and funding support at various state-level agencies and institutions are insufficient to affect solutions to all of the urban forest problems mention above. For example, the Division of Forestry has only six state-funded urban foresters to provide state-wide assistance to local governments. More importantly, there are no state funds available to supplement federal pass-through dollars should these grant funds cease to exist. A possible long-term solution to this problem is the financial support of an existing forestry development fund administered by the Division of Forestry. This fund would serve as funding to support urban forestry projects or research grants.
Research Needed - Far too little is known about urban ecosystems and the requirements for tree survival and growth therein. Further research may also help motivate state and local leaders to take action on urban forestry issues. Extensive interdisciplinary research into the physical science of the urban environment, the socioeconomic impact of the urban forest, and the motivational factors that influence values and decision-making should be conducted.
Authors
Steven R. Cothrel
City Forester
City of Upper Arlington, Ohio
Mark S. Ervin
Project Administrator
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry
Columbus, Ohio
Andrew P. Todd
State Urban Forestry Coordinator
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry
Columbus, Ohio
Urban Trees require periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure that each tree remains safe and healthy.
The sheltering effect of trees can reduce energy consumption for heating in the winter.
Areas with vital urban forests are preferred places to live, work, or visit.