I'm a PhD student at Southern University and A&M
College, where I also got my undergraduate and master's
degrees. My master's thesis was about the physio-
logical responses of Japanese magnolia (Magnolia
liliiflora) to elevated CO
2
, light intensity, and flooding—
all to mimic the effects of climate change. For this and
other commonly planted ornamental species, these
simulations yielded information that city managers
and homeowners can use to make the best decisions
about plant selection. For my doctoral research, I am
focusing on urban wood waste and bio-oil production.
I am currently developing the methodology for my
research. I will identify the total amounts of available
wood waste in Louisiana and estimate bio-oil output
yields and economic value from this wood waste.
I also work for the Forest Service on the data collec-
tion staff for an Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis
(UFIA) project in the Pacific Northwest region. During
the spring and summer months, my cohorts and
I collect data in Portland, Oregon and San Diego,
California on all trees 5 inches (12.7 cm) Diameter at
Breast Height (DBH) or larger within a 48 foot/14.6
m-radius circle in the center of strategic plots. For
the trees, we collect data for DBH, height, damage
agents, crown size, and building energy data. We
also collect data on ground covers, invasive species
cover, and seedling and sapling data on microplots.
I didn't find Urban Forestry, it found me! I knew that
I was going to attend Southern University and A&M
College and had selected English to be my major on my
application that was ultimately accepted. Dr. Robert
Rene encouraged me to attend a summer program
called BAYOU; it was three paid weeks on the Southern
University campus that included freshman orientation.
Brittany Benjamin
I didn't f ind
Urban Forestr y,
it found me!
14 CityTREES
14 CityTREES
