Tree Research

By Emily K. Meineke, Robert R. Dunn, Joseph O. Sexton, Steven D. Frank

Raleigh, NC (March 27, 2013) — New research results provide the first evidence that heat can be a key driver of insect pest outbreaks on urban trees. Since urban warming is similar in magnitude to global warming predicted in the next 50 years, pest abundance on city trees may foreshadow widespread outbreaks as natural forests also grow warmer. The research was conducted by North Carolina State University.
(more...)

By Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times

New York, NY (March 27, 2013) – New research out of Edinburgh supports the idea that spending time in green spaces with trees reduces stress and brain fatigue. What makes this study different from earlier research is that it looks at real-time data from the brains of people while they were actually outside, moving through the city and the parks. The study makes use of a recently developed lightweight, portable version of the electroencephalogram, a technology that studies brain wave patterns.
(more...)

Toronto, Canada (March 14, 2013) — Good news for elm trees. University of Toronto and SickKids Research Institute announced that they have successfully mapped the genes in the fungus that causes Dutch Elm Disease. They hope this will help scientists figure out how to prevent the fungus from destroying elm trees in the future. Researchers believe this is the first time the 30 million DNA letters for the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi have been mapped.
(more...)

New York (December 2012) – A report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the New York City Soil & Water Conservation District, provides ten case studies illuminating how leading cities plan, administer, and implement programs that convert vacant lots to green space–all in the context of regulatory requirements and broader redevelopment goals. ACTrees member organizations participating in the study include Parks & People Foundation, New York Restoration Project, Openlands, and The Greening of Detroit.
(more...)

Washington, DC (February 2013) – The U.S. Forest Service has released a new handbook, “Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species,” to provide guidance on best uses and practices for dead and dying urban trees infected by invasive insects in the eastern U.S.
(more...)

By John Talberth, Erin Gray, Logan Yonavjak, Todd Gartner

Maine (February 2013) — Investments in “green” infrastructure solutions, such as agricultural and forestry best-management practices, are increasingly recognized as cost-effective ways to achieve environmental quality outcomes over a long time-horizon relative to traditional investments in “gray” infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment or water filtration plants. Despite this, there is no consistent and accessible methodology available to decision makers for investigating the financial trade-offs. This paper suggests such a methodology—green-gray analysis (GGA)—and demonstrates its application by considering a green-gray case study involving the Portland Water District (PWD) in Maine.
(more...)

By Akhlesh Lakhtakia and Thomas C. Baker

University Park, PA (February 12, 2013) — After 25 years, researchers may have found a way to keep the emerald ash borer in check. Researchers at Penn State are testing decoys, replicas of certain biological materials, as bait to trap the male beetles, with some success.
(more...)

By Kristen L. King and Dexter H. Locke

New York (March 4, 2013) — Measurements of urban tree canopy cover are crucial for managing urban forests and required for the quantification of the benefits provided by trees. These types of data are increasingly used to secure funding and justify large-scale planting programs in urban areas. Comparisons of tree canopy measurement methods have been conducted before, but a rapidly evolving set of new technologies and applications may leave urban foresters wondering, “Which method is most appropriate for my circumstances?“
(more...)

Melbourne, Australia (February 18, 2013) — New thermal imaging research out of Australia is showing how street trees, parks, green roofs, and other green infrastructure are lowering city temperatures compared to the built, gray environment. Results show that leafy, green streets and irrigated open space areas were much cooler than built up urban areas without green infrastructure.
(more...)

By Daolan Zheng, Mark J. Ducey, Linda S. Heath

New England (January 2013) — This study provides a new methodology to estimate net forest carbon sequestration (FCS) in urban and community lands of northern New England using ground based forest growth rates, housing density data, satellite derived land cover and tree canopy cover maps at the county level. Urban and community forests play an important role in the overall carbon budget of the USA. Accurately quantifying carbon sequestration by these forests can provide insight for strategic planning to mitigate greenhouse gas effects on climate change.
(more...)