A Static Pulling Test Is a Suitable Method for Comparison of the Loading Resistance of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) between Urban and Peri-Urban Forests

In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating serious threats and damages to nearby targets. Therefore, species with notably lower both wood mechanical properties and compartmentalization, such as pioneers, are considered to have higher wind damage risk if subjected to unfavorable growing conditions. Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), are frequently found in both urban and peri-urban forests in Northeastern and Central parts of Europe, which strengthen the necessity for the evaluation of mechanical stability of such species. Therefore, static pulling tests were performed to compare the mechanical stability of the studied species in both urban and peri-urban forests. The loading resistance of the studied species differed, with birch being more stable than aspen, indicating aspen to be more prone to wind damage. Additionally, the mechanical stability of birch did not differ between trees growing in urban and peri-urban forests, suggesting static pulling tests are a suitable method for comparing trees from completely different growing conditions.

Island biogeography theory and the urban landscape: stopover site selection by the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Many migratory bats require forested sites for roosting and foraging along their migration path, but increased urbanization and intensive agricultural practices may reduce the availability of stopover sites. Urban forests may provide important stopover habitat, maintaining landscape connectivity in regions where the majority of natural habitat has been cleared for development. Island biogeography theory can be applied to urbanized temperate forest biomes where small urban forests represent islands separated from the larger “mainland” forest. We used acoustic monitoring during the fall migration period to investigate the use of urban forest habitat by the migratory species Lasionycteris noctivagans Le Conte, 1831. We predicted that recorded activity would have a positive relationship with forest patch area and shape and a negative relationship with isolation from other forest patches, as suggested by island biogeography theory. We observed greater activity at larger forest patches, and although relationships for shape and isolation were not statistically supported the observed patterns were consistent with predictions. Our results demonstrate the need for more in-depth research on the habitat requirements for both migratory and resident bat species and the impact that ongoing urbanization has on local bat populations.

Lessons Learned from Developing Best Management Practices for Urban Tree Care and Wildlife

Urban forests create indispensable habitat for declining wildlife populations. The tree care industry is essential to the viability of urban forests and thus the survival of urban wildlife. At the same time, tree care operations such as tree removal and branch pruning present clear threats to urban wildlife and their habitats. Here we describe the development of a grassroots coalition of arborists and wildlife advocates in the Western United States and the process of charting a path to best management practices and professional training to mitigate the impacts of tree care practices to wildlife. In particular, we describe the unique challenges and opportunities that arose through this multi-disciplinary process and build a case for the benefits of uniting diverse communities of practice around complex urban ecological problems. We finish by laying out recommendations to the international arboriculture and urban forestry practitioner and research communities.

Ecological and stabilizing value and problems оf suburban forests use in Ivano-Frankivsk region

The role of suburban forests is revealed, the main problems of their use by the population are described and the main ways of solving problematic issues are suggested. The legal aspects of the use and management of suburban forests are revealed. The recreational and ecologically sanitizing potential of suburban and urban forests, the range and possibilities of providing them with ecosystem functions are described on the example of Ivano-Frankivsk city territorial community. The general characteristics of the forest cover of Ivano-Frankivsk region are given, the key threats to nature related to human activities in urban and suburban forests are outlined. Based on a critical analytical review of literature data and own observations, key threats to the ecologically balanced functioning of suburban forests of Ivano-Frankivsk city TG have been identified and systematized.

Market Segmentation by Motivations of Urban Forest Users and Differences in Perceived Effects

The purpose of this study aims at segmenting the urban forest users’ market by motivation and analyzing the difference in perceived effects of urban forests. Based on a literature review, the study selected seven motivating factors of urban forest users: experiential activity, relaxatin/healing, health management, escape from everday life, daily leisure, affinity toward nature. Data were collected online from 21 to 29 Sepember 2020 with urban forest visitors. We analyzed 878 questionnaires received from those with experience of visiting an urban forest within the previous 24 months. We performed a cluster analysis to classify the subjects according to the characteristics of urban forest utilization, and assigned them to four clusters (rest in nature, family leisure, passive participation, and multiple pursuit). An additional analysis was performed to determine intergroup differences, which revealed differences in perceived benefits and healing effects of urban forests as well as satisfaction. The results of this study provide implications for urban forest operation and strategy setup.

Climate Adaptive Silviculture for the City: Practitioners and Researchers Co-create a Framework for Studying Urban Oak-Dominated Mixed Hardwood Forests

Urban forested natural areas are an important component of the forest and tree canopy in northeastern United States urban areas. Although similar to native forests in surrounding regions in structure, composition, and function, these natural areas are threatened by multiple, co-occurring biological and climate stressors that are exacerbated by the urban environment. Furthermore, forests in cities often lack application of formal silvicultural approaches reliant upon evidence-based applied ecological sciences. These include both urban- and climate-adapted silvicultural techniques to increase the resilience and sustainability of native forests in cities. With this in mind, we convened a group of urban forest practitioners and researchers from along a latitudinal gradient in the northeastern United States to participate in a workshop focused on co-developing long-term, replicated ecological studies that will underlie the basis for potential silvicultural applications to urban forests. In this article we review the process and outcomes of the workshop, including an assessment of forest vulnerability, and adaptive capacity across the region, as well as shared management goals and objectives. We discuss the social and ecological challenges of managing urban oak-dominated mixed hardwood forests relative to non-urban forests and identify potential examples of urban- and climate-adapted silviculture strategies created by practitioners and researchers. In doing so, we highlight the challenges and need for basic and long-term applied ecological research relevant to silvicultural applications in cities.

Temporal Development and Regeneration Dynamics of Restored Urban Forests

<p>Urban forest restoration programmes are a key tool used to initiate, re-create or accelerate the succession of forest species; improving ecosystem services, function, resilience and biodiversity. Succession is a temporal shift in species dominance driven by abiotic and biotic influences, but over decadal timescales the trajectory and success of restoration plantings in degraded urban environments can be hindered. To facilitate the successful reconstruction of forest ecosystems from scratch, an understanding of the temporal patterns in planted forest development, dynamics of seedling regeneration and dominant drivers of seedling diversity is required. Using a chronosequence approach, permanent plots were established at 44 restored urban forests aged 5 to 59 years since initial plantings took place, across five New Zealand cities between Wellington and Invercargill. Vegetation surveys were undertaken and data on micro-climate were collected. This study examined the 1) temporal dynamics of restored urban forest development and seedling regeneration and 2) dominant drivers of seedling regeneration. Data were analysed using linear regression models, breakpoint analysis and mixed-effects modelling. Early forest development (<20 years) exhibited the most changes in canopy composition and structure, forest floor dynamics, seedling community and microclimate. This period saw significant increases in canopy stem abundance, height, basal area and leaf litter cover. Significant declines occurred for light transmittance, herbaceous cover and daily soil and air temperature range within the same timeframe. Dominant traits amongst the seedling community included early successional species, tree species, shade and drought tolerant species, insect-pollinated species and frugivory dispersed species. Seedlings with these traits had higher species richness levels across the whole chronosequence. Collectively, five biotic drivers representing forest composition, structure and landscape factors strongly influenced seedling diversity. Seedling diversity increased with the proportion of surrounding natural landcover, sapling diversity, basal area, canopy diversity and herbaceous cover. The influence of these predictors of seedling diversity, was more significant when modelled as a set, than when viewed independently. Geographic location (city) was indicated as a stronger predictor for similarities in canopy and seedling community composition than the age of the restoration planting. This was shown by stronger clustering of sites according to their city, more so than forest planting age, in a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis. Our results provide valuable insight to restoration practitioners on the outcomes of urban restoration programmes implemented across much of New Zealand and helps close the gap between the science of restoration ecology and the practice of ecological restoration.</p>