Published Library Resources

This virtual library holds a wide range of urban forestry resources including: research abstracts and full text journal articles, trade magazine articles, CDs, other technology transfer resources, books (or chapters of books), patents, ordinances, theses and dissertations, and conference proceedings.

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: Hemlock

A fact sheet describing the hemlock tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: White Spruce

A fact sheet describing the white spruce tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: Red Spruce

A fact sheet describing the red spruce tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: Black Spruce

Fact sheet describing the black spruce tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: Pitch Pine

Fact sheet about the pitch pine tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: Red Pine

Fact sheet about the red pine tree. read more...

Maine Tree Species Fact Sheet: White Pine

A factsheet on the white pine tree. read more...

Choosing the Right Apple Rootstock

This factsheet lists many dwarfing rootstock that will do well in a backyard. read more...

Care of the Mature Backyard Apple Tree

This factsheet provides information on pruning, fertilization, and pest control for a healthy apple tree. read more...

A New Hampshire Plant Palette

This factsheet contains information on over 25 underutilized and underappreciated trees, shrubs, and vines that work well as urban landscape plants. read more...

A First Look at Tree Decay – An Introduction to How Injury and Decay Affect Trees

This factsheet provides a brief description of types of tree damage and the compartmentalization that follows. read more...

A Look at Community Capacity to Conserve Open Space in the Twin Cities Area

This report is based on results of a questionnaire that examined local government capacity to conserve parks and natural areas in the 11-county Twin Cities (Minnesota) metro area. read more...

Flowering Crabapples for Maine

This factsheet contains information on flowering crabapples in Maine. It includes tree characteristics along with tree care details. read more...

Firewood and Insects

This factsheet contains information on insects that are brought into homes with firewood. read more...

Fertilizing Urban Trees

This factsheet contains information on the best commercial formulation of fertilizer for urban areas.

Municipal Tree Management in the United States: A 1994 Report

Survey results and studies on municipal tree programs.

Energy Saving Landscapes: The Minnesota Homeowner's Guide

A booklet that describes how to save energy by strategically placing trees.

Talking Trees An Urban Forestry Toolkit for Local Governments

Toolkit that describes the benefits of the urban forest and outlines policy guidelines to move toward achieving a sustainable urban ecosystem. read more...

The Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information - Abstract

 

Flammability of native understory species within pine flatwood and hardwood hammock ecosystems - Abstract

 

Fire spread and structural ignitions from horticultural plantings in the wildland-urban interface

Although high-intensity fires are often the recognized ignition source for structures in the wildland-urban interface, many structures are also vulnerable to lower intensity surface fires carried through nearby landscaping materials such as grass, mulches and shrubs. Significant numbers of homes ... read more...

Gui Rapida de Arbustos Firewise ('Quick Guide to Firewise Shrubs' Spanish translation)

 

Using Community Forums to Enhance Public Engagement in Environmental Issues

As environmental issues become more complex, the public may be less interested in becoming knowledgeable enough to participate in decision making. Yet its input can be critically important in some community-based issues. A community forum is one tool designed to provide information, enable ... read more...

Urban Sprawl and Atmospheric Pollution Effects on the Forest in the Georgia Piedmont

 

Urban Forestry and the Eco-City: Today and Tomorrow

In 1990, the Chicago Academy of Sciences held a conference on Sustainable Cities:Preserving and Restoring Urban Biodiversity, which lead to the publication of a book entitled The Ecological City (Platt et al., 1994). This symposium differed from others on cities at thattime by focusing principally ... read more...

The Effect of Gainesville's Urban Trees on Energy Use of Residential Buildings

 

Perspectives on Prescribed Fire in the South: Does Ethnicity Matter?

Using a household survey and regression methods, we assessed preferences for prescribed fire in the southern United States. We found that the majority of the respondents favored the use of prescribed fire. However, we observed pronounced racial variation in opinions on prescribed fire and its side ... read more...

National Kids Survey Part IV: Favorite Activities for Spending Time Outdoors

In this part of the Report Series dealing with kids, Part IV, researchers cover activities viewed by kids as their outdoor favorites. Comparisons are made between boys and girls, age groups, and race. Also covered is a comparison of participation rates between active and passive outdoor activities. read more...

InterfaceSouth: Providing Resources for a Changing Landscape

InterfaceSouth has taken a novel approach among research work units in the FS in that a technology transfer component is fully integrated within the research program. Additionally, InterfaceSouth's advisory council, the Southern Wildland-Urban Interface Council (SWUIC), provides feedback about ... read more...

Gainesville's Urban Forest Structure and Composition

 

Gainesville's Urban Forest Canopy Cover

 

Fire in the South 2: The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment

The South consistently has the highest number of wildfires per year of any region in the U.S. To address the significant wildfire problem in the South, all 13 southern states and several Federal agencies pooled their resources to conduct a regional Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment. Fire in the ... read more...

Evaluating the impact of government land use policies on tree canopy coverage

Many cities around the world are experiencing the negative effects associated with not sustaining a sufficient level of tree canopy coverage. Tree canopy provides environmental benefits such as clean water and air, erosion prevention, climate control, and native species habitat and provides ... read more...

Developing an Urban Forest Management Plan for Hurricane-Prone Communities

This chapter brings together the information and tools from the previous chapters and changes the focus to the community rather than the homeowner, and from individual trees to the urban forest. The urban forest is the collective sum of all trees and vegetation in and around an urban area. read more...

Detection of Land-Use and Land Cover Changes in Franklin, Gulf, and Liberty Counties, Florida, with Multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper Images

Florida Panhandle region has been experiencing rapid land transformation in the recent decades. To quantify land use and land cover (LULC) changes and other landscape changes in this area, three counties including franklin, liberty and Gulf were taken as case study and an unsupervised ... read more...

Changing Roles in the Southern United States

Natural resource agencies are being called upon to provide solutions to increasingly complex challenges at the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The Changing Roles: Wildland-Urban Interface Professional Development Program was developed to builds skills and provides tools to successfully tackle WUI ... read more...

Changing Roles: WUI Professional Development Program

 

Forest Service Southern Region Changing Land Use Position Paper Project

 

Carbon Sequestration and Storage by Gainesville's Urban Forest

 

Building Successful Partnerships for Technology Transfer

As budgets for Cooperative Extension projects get tighter, many units are enticed to consider partnerships with agencies and organizations to continue to pro actively deliver services. Our experience working with the USDA Forest Service in a partnership that involves joint staffing and funding for ...

Bi-parental Cytoplasmic DNA Inheritance in Wisteria (Fabaceae): Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Cytoplasmic inheritance was investigated in interspecific hybrids of Wisteria sinensis and W. floribunda. Species-specific nuclear, mitochondrial and plastid DNA markers were identified from wild-collected plants of each species in its native range. These markers provide evidence for the ... read more...

Applying Ecosystem Management to Urban Forestry

An ecosystem is defined as a spatially and temporally explicit place that includes all the organisms, all abiotic factors in that environment, and their interactions (Likens, 1992). For an urban ecosystem, this includes the entire set of social, ecological, and physical components that define an ... read more...

An Urban Forestry Needs Assessment for Rapidly Urbanizing Florida: Assessing Community Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Urban and Urbanizing Forests

Florida is experiencing tremendous population growth due to the influx of approximately 1,00 people into state everyday. The resulting urbanization has resulted in a loss of 40,000 acres of forest over per year. The USDA Forest Service has identified urban development as the greatest threat to ... read more...

Air Pollution Removal and Temperature Reduction by Gainesville's Urban Forest

 

Mulch Flammability

Determined the flammability characteristics of four mulch types- pine straw, large and small pine bark, and shredded cypress mulch-both in the field and laboratory under two drought regimes. read more...

Invasive Wisteria in the Southeastern United States: genetic diversity, hybridization and the role of urban centers

The increasing numbers and negative impacts of invasive species have prompted research on the relationship between human activities and the success of invasive horticultural plants. In this study, we use population genetic relationships to model the escape of a common garden vine, exotic Wisteria, ... read more...

Identity of naturalised exotic Wisteria (Fabaceae) in the south-eastern United States

Exotic Wisteria are increasingly serious invasive plants of watersheds and managed forests throughout the south-eastern United States. Naturalised individuals are frequently identified as either Wisteria floribunda or W. sinensis, but may differ significantly from the original descriptions of ... read more...

Culture, place and urban growth in the U.S. South

People's connection to land is an important contributor to identity in traditional southern society. In small southern communities, to know where someone lives is to know who someone is because place assigns biography. Studies have investigated the physical and economic implications of landscape ... read more...

Technology transfer activities of the Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information

The Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information (Center) is a part of the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. The Center's mission is to develop and communicate guidelines, models, and tools needed by natural resource managers, policymakers, planners, and ...

Quantifying and ranking the flammability of ornamental shrubs in the southern United States

Wildfire preparedness programs focus on education and provide assistance with community design, home construction, and landscape design. Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) residents, nursery employees, and landscape architects often request lists containing species that would be appropriate for ... read more...

Species composition and structure of regenerated and remnant forest patches within an urban landscape

Regenerated and remnant forest patches were inventoried in Syracuse, New York, USA to determine differences in structure, species composition, human disturbances, and landscape context. Patches had similar mean stem diameter, total stem density, and total basal areas, but differed with respect to ... read more...

Reaching out: developing a video script for natural resource managers to use with residents in the wildland-urban interface

Population growth and changing land use preferences in the southern United States are expanding the wildland-urban interface. The interface occurs where human development influences natural areas, impacts natural resources, and creates complex challenges for natural resource managers. Resource ... read more...

Fuel reduction options for landowners at the wildland-urban interface

The tranquility and natural setting of wildland areas are characteristics that are appealing to many who desire to leave the congestion and fast pace of the city. These appeals, coupled with the need to grow due to increases in population, have resulted in an urban sprawl that has placed many homes ... read more...

Forests at the wildland-urban interface: conservation and management

Forests at the wildland-urban interface are at increasing risk due to the impacts of urbanization. Conserving and managing these forestlands for continued ecological and social benefits is a critical and complex challenge facing natural resource managers, land-use planners, and policymakers. ...

Flammability of native understory species in pine flatwood and hardwood hammock ecosystems and implications for the wildland-urban interface

Six understory species from five pine flatwood sites and six understory species from five hardwood hammock sites were harvested for biomass analyses to compare potential flammability between two ecosystems in the south-eastern coastal plain of the United States. Plant components were separated into ... read more...

Down by the riverside: urban riparian ecology

Riparian areas are hotspots of interactions between plants, soil, water, microbes, and people. While urban land use change has been shown to have dramatic effects on watershed hydrology, there has been surprisingly little analysis of its effects on riparian areas. Here we examine the ecology of ... read more...

Creating a Wildfire Risk Assessment Guide for Homeowners in the Southern U.S.

Homeowners in the southern United States are faced with the threat of wildfires every year. A risk assessment guide was developed in an effort to provide homeowners with a tool to assist them in reducing the fire threat. A draft of the guide was sent to 174 fire experts in the South, and 41 ... read more...

Wildland-urban interface issues and approaches

The wildland-urban interface poses numerous risks for ecosystems and human communities and requires that natural resource management be adapted to this changing environment. The Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information is taking serveral approaches to address these ... read more...

Wildfire risk assessment guide for homeowners in the southern United States

Wildfires are an important and necessary occurrence in many natural areas of the southern United States, but they also present a risk to homes constructed in, or next to, such areas. All homes are not equally at risk for a variety of reasons. For homeowners, risk is based on nearby land use, ... read more...

Fire in the wildland-urban interface in the USA South

Population and urbanisation are rapidly expanding in the southern US, increasing human influences on forests that are considered highly productive and essential for supplying future wood and non-timber benefits. Challenges created in the wildland-urban interface relate to changing biodiversity, ... read more...

Communication tools for the wildland-urban interface

Effective communication tools can help resource managers address wildland-urban interface issues by reducing conflict, raising awareness, and motivating behavior change among the visitors and residents. read more...

The Moving Edge: Perspectives on the Southern Wildland-Urban Interface

To better understand the wildland-urban interface across the 13 Southern States and to identify issues to be covered in the USDA Forest Service report, 'Human Influences on Forest Ecosystems: The Southern Wildland-Urban Interface Assessment,' 12 focus groups were conducted in 6 of the Southern ... read more...

Flammability of native understory species in pine flatwood and hardwood hammock ecosystems

The flammability of plants contributes to fire behavior and fire regimes in natural ecosystems. As urban development continues within and near fire-dependent ecosystems in the southern United States, the flammability of plants in those ecosystems may influence the survival of human-built structures ...

The Urbanizing Forest: Guidelines for Tree Protection

This booklet describes how the conversion of forested land to an urbanizing setting is impacting the trees.

Nearby Nature in the City: Preserving and Enhancing Livability

A booklet describing ways in which nature is experienced and the psychological and social benefits that come from seeing it, being in it, and exploring it. read more...

Designing Your Landscape for Maine

This article contains information on how to landscape an urban lot for beauty, functionality and positivity for the environment. read more...

Components of a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife needs certain attributes to survive. This fact sheet introduces 16 components. read more...

Black Knot of Plum and Cherry

This fact sheet contains the effects of black knot, a common disease of Prunus spp. in Maine. read more...

Tree Planting Breakthrough!

This booklet describes a tree planting method that minimizes the amount of excess soil over the root ball.

Planting Strategies for Energy Conservation

Flyer describing how to strategically place trees to reduce energy costs.

Community Guide: Urban & Community Forestry Inventories

This booklet describes the steps to completing a tree inventory.

The Best Plants for 30 Tough Sites

Descriptions of plants for tough garden sites.

Protecting Trees when Building on Forested Land

Information on practices that contribute to poor tree health and what can be done to lessen those effects.

A Guide to Preserving Trees in Development Projects

Booklet describing why and how to preserve trees in development projects read more...

Reducing Storm Damage in Urban Forests:A Pruning Guide

Flyer describing how to prune trees for minimal storm damage.

University Avenue Tree Walk: City of Champaign

A walking guide through Champaign's urban forest.

Learning from Social Networks: A Study in Landowner Decision Making (Webcast)

This webcast featured David B. Kittredge, PhD, Professor and Extension Forester at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst

Sustainable Urban Forest Management Planning Using Criteria and Indicators (Webcast)

“Sustainable Urban Forest Management Planning Using Criteria and Indicators”, was presented on January 27, 2010, and featured Philip van Wassenaer, B.Sc, MFC, Urban Forest Innovations Inc. , Mississauga, Ontario and Andy Kenney Ph.D., RPF, Faculty of Forestry , University of Toronto , Toronto, ...

Technical Notes - Urban Tree Phenology Project

Phenology is the scientific study of periodic natural phenomena (e.g. flowering or first leaf appearance) as these events are influenced by climate. read more...

Pruning Young Elms: Guiding American, Asian, and Hybrid Elms to Stately Maturity

 

Changes in Tree Phenology: An Indicator of Spring Warming in Ireland?

Research illustrating the use of phenological data collected through the InternationalPhenological Gardens (IPG) network to support climate change studies.

Leaf phenology in 22 North American tree species during the 21st century

Discusses a model developed to predict tree species leaf out under two climate change scenarios. An illustration of research use of phenological event data.

Urban Forest Storm Strike Team (Webcast)

This webcast featured four speakers who outlined a post-disaster response tool for assessing the urban forest.

Operating a Nursery, Community Garden, or Arboretum (Webcast)

Operating a nursery, community garden, or small arboretum can enhance your organization's programming and, in some cases, provide unrestricted revenue to support your mission. Establishing and sustaining such an operation requires substantial commitment. Learn more about the challenges of site ...

Getting into Greenroofs (Webcast)

Greenroofing offers an attractive alternative to the barren deserts of tar, gravel and asphalt usually seen from urban windows.

Organizing Workprograms for High School Students (Webcast)

High school work programs are a great opportunity for youth leadership through environmental education and job training.

Leaf Spot Disease of Trees and Shrubs

This factsheet describes the general life cycle, symptoms, hosts, and control methods of fungi that cause leaf spot. read more...

SmartGrowth and Urban Forestry (Webcast)

Smart Growth intersects with urban forestry on many levels: energy costs, crime, livability/sustainability, and more. Urban design is no longer isolated solely to buildings.

Ecologically Invasive Plants

This factsheet describes the negative effects that introduced plants can have on a local plant community. read more...

Starting a Tree Group & Operating Sustainably (Webcast)

Citizen foresters around the country are working to make communities more livable for us all. ACT members, in particular, are on the cutting edge of emerging issues, working with government and business on SmartGrowth initiatives, engaging citizens to transform communities, and promoting workforce ...

Affordable Housing and Trees (Webcast)

Affordable housing is about building homes that are accessible to employment and educational opportunities, and that people of limited means can afford to own, operate, and maintain over the long-term, creating stable, strong communities. Part of that equation is ensuring that homes are efficient- ...

A national assessment of green infrastructure and change for the conterminous United States using morphological image processing

A national analysis of land-cover using morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) to determine hubs and links as potential green infrastructure.

Green Jobs- Part I: Adult Workforce Training (Webcast)

The green industry is a $40 billion market and increasing quickly. In many sectors of the green industry, including tree care, there is a job for every trained worker available.

Tree Sales and Giveaways (Webcast)

Tree giveaways and sales are a great way to engage a broad segment of the community including individual residents, neighborhood organizations, affordable housing agencies, schools, and civic groups.

Technology in the Urban Forest (Webcast)

If your mission is to restore, enhance, and protect the tree canopy of a given locality, then urban forestry technology tools can help you set and achieve ambitious goals using a suite of tools including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tree benefit calculators. Extrapolating the data into ...

Urban Forests and Open Green Spaces: Lessons for Jaipur, Rajasthan (India)

A review of the present status of urban forestry across the world, with lessons that can be applied for the governance of urban green spaces during the development of Jaipur, Rajasthan. read more...

Trees and Transportation (Webcast)

Trees and landscape features that are located within the public right-of-way and adjacent to roadways in urban environments are often perceived by transportation officials as a safety risk.

Special Event Fundraising (Webcast)

Special event fundraisers are an opportunity to raise money, of course, but can also increase the visibility of an organization.

NeighborWoods Month 101 (Webcast)

National NeighborWoods Month is a united campaign to celebrate trees and raise awareness for the value of urban forests.

Urban Forestry Partnerships in Education (Webcast)

There are many reasons to partner urban and community forestry with traditional education, but probably they all come back to laying the foundations of future citizens who are learned, capable, and responsible.