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- Info
Urban and peri-urban forestry
| Author: |
Nilsson, K.; Randrup, T.B. |
| Date: |
[N.d.] |
| Periodical: |
Note: From the XI World Forestry Congress. On file with: The Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information, Bldg 164, Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611 |
| Link: |
http://www.fao.org/forestry/foda/wforcong/publi/v1/t3e/1-1.HTM#TOP
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| Abstract: |
Urban forestry is here defined as planning, design and management of trees and forest stands with amenity values, situated in or near urban areas. In the urban landscape, growing conditions of plants differs from the rural landscape. Paving and buildings characterize the city, in which wind speed is decreased (with an increase in wind throw), temperatures and precipitation is raised, the humidity is lowered and shading is common in many street canyons. Growing conditions may also be difficult due to recreational uses. In the specific locations throughout the world, a limited number of species are used as urban trees. This is related to the fact that the prolonged use of urban trees has demonstrated which trees are the most hardy, aesthetically pleasing and easy to propagate. New species are necessary in relation to new applications and new management techniques. Planting of urban trees is often carried out with little appreciation or attention to the character and quality of the growing conditions beneath the surface. The negative influences of soil compaction may be minimized by new establishment techniques which include a new way of planning the urban green areas and by root penetrable base materials. Maintenance of urban green areas is related to securing the multifunctional purposes of the areas. In this respect special attention should be paid to detection of tree vitality and hazardous trees. Planning and management of urban green areas include tree inventories which, among other things, are a very useful tool in keeping control with the vitality of the urban trees. Green infrastructure planning is a large-scale urban planning tool which may be used in order to secure the overall green structure of a city. Since the Second World War, an increase in use of heavy machinery and pesticides has been central- and accepted -elements when green areas were established and maintained in Europe and Northern America. Today, increased environmental awareness has, at least in northern Europe, decreased the use of pesticides. The main challenge of the future is to secure the development of urban green areas throughout the world within the framework of environmental awareness. Human beings are an important resource in this respect, mainly because man-power is a strong alternative to the effective but very damaging technologies used today. |
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