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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/898636
challenge is a lack of federal support. The Canadian Forest Service is currently developing their internal mandates related to urban forestry; this new develop- ment in Canada's federal government offers an oppor- tunity for closer collaboration. Lastly, even though diversity was not an overtly identi- fied theme, it permeated every discussion and presen- tation we experienced. The contribution of women in urban forestry and arboriculture is the overarching nar- rative that I am currently examining in my postdoctoral research through the University of British Columbia. As such, it was particularly interesting to me that the majority of our host speakers were women. It was inspiring to see the influences of so many women at dif- ferent ages and stages in their careers, not to mention the diversity in race, ethnicity, and perspectives. Here a few of the places we visited during our seminar that exemplified the major themes listed above in the context of urban forestry, urban renewal, and environ- mental justice. NYC urban natural areas: building community resiliency (social, ecological, and disaster resiliency) Our first day in New York was spent discussing how we Dr. Lindsay Campbell of the US Forest Service spoke about the important role of the Urban Field Station as a research base for studying the city as a social ecological system (integration of social and biophysical). This is done through adaptive management, applied science, and public-facing programs. The Urban Field Stations serve to create a space of meaning where people can be innova - tive and where new topics and ideas can emerge. In NYC, the importance is focused on forming interdisciplinary teams and operating as a network across the country. The takeaways for me here were the importance of people underlying land use management and their individual responsibilities for tree care. build, develop, and maintain resiliency after disaster; the importance of public-private partnerships—how we develop them and leverage resources; and the balance of green and gray infrastructure. Land use management is a three-way partnership in New York between the US Forest Service (who does not own any land in NYC), the Natural Areas Conservancy, and the NYC Parks Department. Bram Gunther of the NYC Parks Department and Natural Areas Conservancy provided an overview of NYC's natural areas and greenspaces, restoration, and green infrastructure. High Line in New York City, Photo credit: Adrina C. Bardekjian