2015 Texas Envirothon

Urban and Community Forestry

Key Topics

1. Understand what sustainable urban & community forestry is and why it is important.
2. Understand of the numerous benefits of urban/community forests to society, often referred to as ecosystem services.
3. Understand the costs associated with urban/community forests.
4. Understand what an urban forest management plan is and why it is an essential tool.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the economic, social, and environmental benefits of urban/community trees to local communities.
2. Comprehension of the effects of urban/community trees on air quality and water quality.
3. Knowledge of research showing that trees contribute to our health, well-being and quality of life.
4. Understanding of threats to urban/community forests such as invasive species, insect and diseases, climate change, fire, air pollution, lack of management capability and development pressures.
5. Understand what a tree inventory is and what it is used for.
6. Understand the components of an urban/community forest management plan.
7. Basic knowledge of models and tools used to calculate the value of tree canopy functions.

NCF-Envirothon Learning Objectives, Urban and Community Forestry Background, Oral Presentation Scenario

• A Guide to Assessing Urban Forests
• Austin's Urban Forest Plan: A Master Plan for Public Property (Online Document Viewer)
• Benefits of Trees
• Green Roofs, City of Austin
• Green roofs save money, energy but challenge Texas plants
• Guides to Urban Forest Management Planning
• i-Tree Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests
• Stormwater to Street Trees – Engineering Urban Forests for Storm Water Management
• Sustaining America's Urban Trees and Forests
• The Benefits of Urban Trees
• The Costs of Managing an Urban Forest
• Urban & Community Forestry
• Urban & Community Tree Inventories, NCFS
• Urban Ecosystem Analysis for the Houston Gulf Coast Region (PDF)
• Urban Forestry Best Management Practices for Public Works Managers
• Urban Forestry, Texas Forest Service
• Urban Forests and Climate Change, US Forest Service

Additional Resources

• Influence of urbanization on a karst terrain stream and fish community
• Texas Watersheds

• Aquatics - Fish Identification
• Forestry
• Envirothon Soils
• Mammals of Texas
• Texas Urban and Community Forestry
• Texas Wetlands and Water Quality