City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/599208
34 City Trees Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces. 3rd ed. Robert W. Miller, Richard J. Hauer, and Les P. Werner. 2015. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, IL. 560 pages incl. appendices, glossary, index, b/w photographs, and illustra- tions. $69.95, Softcover. In the preface to Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces, the authors write that "the intent of this book is to address how to plan for, establish, and manage urban and community trees, forests, and other elements of nature in the urban ecosystem." The authors have done just that in a clearly written and comprehensive reference book that would be of interest to students and practitioners alike. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, Introduction to Urban Forestry, is a must-read for students and career-changers. In the first two chapters, the authors define urban forestry and discuss the organizations involved in this field. I found the backstory regarding the evolution of urban forests on the national and global scale to be informative and entertaining. In Chapters 3 and 4, "Social Needs and Values of Urban Society" and "Functional Uses and Design of Urban Vegetation," the authors address the environmental, economic, psycho- logical, and social contributions of our urban forests. Part 2, Appraisal and Value of Urban Vegetation, is a must-read for city planners, civil engineers, landscape architects, and city managers. In the three chapters that comprise this section, the authors emphasize the importance of using street tree inventories as the basis for tree management plans. They address a variety of inventory systems from the least to the most expensive and provide a detailed examination of documenting vegetation and natural resources with air and ground surveys. Part 3, Planning for and Management of Urban Vegetation, is the largest section of the book. Chapters 8-10 cover policy and planning issues, vegetation ordinances and laws, and information on developing urban forest management plans. The black-and-white photos and figures used throughout the book are especially helpful in this section. They complement the text and illustrate theoretical concepts to help the reader compre - hend the information. Chapters 11 and 12, "Management of Street Trees: Planting" and "Management of Street Trees: Maintenance," are not as comprehensive as the other chapters in this book. As a result, the authors include this caveat: "Readers inter - ested in learning more about proper tree planting procedures and post-planting care are advised to read Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines (Harris et al. 2004) or Modern Arboriculture (Shigo 1991). They also refer the reader to the ISA's Best For Students and Practitioners Alike: A Book Review by Robert F. Polomski, Ph.D., School of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Science, Clemson University