Urban Forest Blog
Urban Trees For Carbon Offsets
by Melinda Housholder, Urban Forests Program Director
Earlier this month, I attended a workshop in Davis, California, called “Urban Forests & Carbon Markets” that American Forests participated in and co-sponsored through a grant with the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program. As California takes the lead to develop a cap-and-trade model to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions statewide, American Forests is excited to be involved in efforts to advance urban forest projects for use in this cap-and-trade model. But before we get into my experience at the workshop, a little background:
In 2006, California committed to reduce GHG emissions and passed , often... (Read More)
More Trees, Please
by Katrina Marland
Across this blog and throughout the American Forests website, you can find a wealth of information about the various and sundry benefits that trees can provide — from the physical (cleaner air) to the economic (higher property value). Trees can also tell us a lot of things, whether it is the inconsequential cliché etched in their bark that “Jimmy loves Sally” or the more important (at least scientifically) history of a region’s climate. And, as pointed out recently by another blogger, trees can also tell us how wealthy a neighborhood is — from space.
In his blog, that worked to better understand the relationship between income ... (Read More)
Trees Make Urban Communities More Livable
by Amanda Tai
I’ve already talked about the importance of trees in urban areas and the many benefits they provide — like increased opportunities for outdoor recreation, community economic growth and improved air quality. Now, the buzz around urban forests has reached the ears of Congress with the , H.R. 709. The bill’s language requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish and administer a grant-giving program for park and recreational projects in urban areas. Many types of projects could be funded by this program, like planting trees in an abandoned lot to turn it into a community green space or engaging inner-city youth in o... (Read More)
Batty for Urban Wildlife
by Melinda Housholder, Urban Forests Program Director
Every year from mid-March to early November, up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats hang out and make roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin, Texas. As the largest urban bat colony in North America, these bats have created a very unique tourist attraction in the city, as more than 100,000 visitors come each year to check them out, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue annually. Not to mention that these bats will eat 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects each night during their flights around the city.
As many of us have likely witnessed, urban environments can offer an array of habitats for exciting wi... (Read More)
Father of Landscape Architecture and Urban Parks
by Michelle Werts
Last week, we celebrated the birthday of the “.” Today, we’re recognizing another famous father.
Frederick Law Olmsted, aka “Father of Landscape Architecture” and creator of many of America’s famous urban parks, was born on this date in 1822. During a century in which America was rapidly expanding and becoming more urban, Olmsted recognized the importance of green spaces for not only their beauty, but also for how they could help reduce stress and allow people a quiet escape from the demands of a busy world.
As a result, some of today’s largest cities have magnificent parks either directly because of Olmsted or indirec... (Read More)