Community Leaders' Perceptions of Urban Forests in Hillsborough County, Florida

This fact sheet compares the results from a needs assessment in Hillsborough County to a national urban tree survey and shares some initial insights into community perceptions and beliefs regarding urban trees in one county along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Although limited, this survey could indicate that Hillsborough County Florida HOA leaders' reasons for having trees in urban areas are similar to those of citizens elsewhere in the United States. However, Hillsborough County respondents indicated a greater concern for hurricane damage to and from trees. Differing beliefs and attitudes toward trees frequently give rise to challenges in managing and dealing with urban forests. These preliminary results are in line with many recent experiences by people working in urban forests in Florida. The results highlight the need to educate people on proper species selection, site design, plant quality, and the benefits as well as costs of urban trees. This information could be used to provide local governments with information on HOA and possibly community leaders' perceptions about urban forests.

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