Phoenix s Urban Forest

Transcription

1 Phoenix s Urban Forest Rises Up to Meet Municipal Challenges Richard Adkins, Forestry Supervisor City of Phoenix Dana Karcher, Market Manager Western Region Davey Resource Group What is the Urban Forest in the Desert Southwest? The collection of trees growing with our city. All vegetation, public and private. The human - forest interface. A keystone for urban living. A component of green infrastructure. A process rather than a goal. 1

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4 9/3/2015 Urban Forestry projects in Phoenix Tree and Shade Master Plan Tree Inventory Urban Forest Resource Analysis Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Cool Urban Spaces Project Southwest Forests Air Quality i-eco study Sustainability and Diversity Sustainability is the ability to maintain ecological, social and economic benefits over time. Urban Forest sustainability requires diversity of tree species as well as diversity of maturity. Right Tree, Right Place Age and size 30% Family, 20% Genus, 10% Species Tree Inventory Top Ten Species in City of Phoenix Vacant space Prosopis spp. Parkinsonia florida Pinus halepensis Parkinsonia praecox Fraxinus spp. Ulmus parvifolia Dalbergia sissoo Washingtonia filifera Acacia stenophylla Washingtonia robusta Mesquite Palo verde Pine Palo brea Ash Evergreen elm Indian Rosewood California Fan palm Shoestring acacia Mexican Fan palm 11.6% 10.1% 6.4% 5.8% 5.4% 4.6% 4.4% 4.1% 3.8% 3.1% 3.1% 4

5 9/3/2015 Tree Inventory Top Ten Species in City of Phoenix Parks Pinus halepensis Prosopis spp. Vacant site Ulmus parvifolia Parkinsonia florida Fraxinus spp. Washingtonia filifera Parkinsonia microphylla Olea europaea Dalbergia sissoo Traffic Arterials Vacant site Parkinsonia florida Dalbergia sissoo Prosopis spp. Acacia stenophylla Chilopsis linearis Acacia aneura Parkinsonia praecox Ulmus parvifolia Washingtonia robusta Valuation Examples Street Landscape medians: 10,600 trees, palms, tall cacti Appraised replacement $5.4 M Encanto Park: 1760 trees and palms Appraised replacement $6.1 M Annual benefit $75.7 K Trees in street landscape/parks/facilities: 92,916 trees $7.8 M annual benefit to the community. 5

6 9/3/2015 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Citywide Land Cover Cool Urban Spaces Project NOAA-funded grant to the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) and ASU s Decision Center for a Desert city and Center for Integrated Solutions to Climate Challenges. Assessment of Heat Mitigation strategies: What are the benefits of increasing tree canopy to 25%? What are the benefits of implementing cool roofs, coat 70,000 sq. ft. of existing rooftops with reflective paint? 6

7 Cool Urban Spaces Project Urban form and the arrangement and type of trees impact cooling benefits. At the neighborhood scale: Cool roofs provide a daytime cooling benefit of 0.3 C (0.5 F). An increase in canopy cover to 25% will in daytime cooling up to 2.0 C (3.6F). Middel et al. 7

8 Trees and Air Quality Trees remove air pollution by interception of Particulate Matter on plant surfaces and absorption of gaseous pollutants through the leaves. Most benefit occurs in rural areas, but greatest health impacts/values are in urban areas. Trees remove substantial amounts of pollutants and can produce health benefits across the nation. Nowak et al., 2014 Project Partners USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry (funder) New Mexico State Forestry Arizona State Forestry Texas A&M Forest Service City of Phoenix City of El Paso City of Las Cruces City of Albuquerque Davey Resource Group Project Summary Key Findings Phoenix, AZ El Paso, TX Las Cruces, NM Albuquerque, NM Number of Trees (est.) 3,166,000 1,281, ,000 1,504,000 Number species samples Land Area 519 sq. mi. 332,160 acres 256 sq. mi. 163,840 acres 76 sq. mi 48,640 acres 181 sq. mi. 115,840 acres Project Area sq. mi acres sq. mi. 101,238 acres 44.0 sq. mi. 28,171 acres sq. mi. 84,626 acres Tree Cover 9.0% 12.9 trees/acre 5.1% 12.7 trees/acre 3.7% 9.1 trees/acre 13.3% 22.2 trees/acre Velvet mesquite 8.3% Italian cypress 25.8% Desert willow 18.0% Siberian elm 24.6% Most Common Species California palm 7.5% Afghan pine 10.8% Italian cypress 15.8% Desert olive 5.6% Sweet acacia 6.7% Mexican fan palm 7.3% Afghan pine 11.8% Desert willow 5.3% Percentage of trees less than 6"DBH Pollution Removal 1770 tons/year ($5.67 million/year) 318 tons/year ($247 thousand/year 92 tons/year ($235 thousand/year) 366 tons/year ($1.1 million/year) Carbon Sequestration 35,400 tons/year ($2.52 million/year) 7,430 tons/year ($529 thousand/year) 1,580 tons/year ($112 thousand/year) 9,710 tons/year ($692 thousand/year) Carbon Storage 305,000 tons ($21.7 Million) 92,800 tons ($6.61 million) 17,800 tons ($1.26 million) 226,000 tons ($16.1 million) Avoided Carbon Emissions $2.96 million/year $384 thousand/year $75 thousand/year $448 thousand/year Oxygen Production 89,200 tons/year 14,100 tons/year 3,290 tons/year 21,300 tons/year Building Energy Savings $22.9 million/year $2.7 million/year $563 thousand/year $3.31 million/year Avoided Stormwater Runoff 91,700,000 cu ft ($6.11 million/year) 32,867,000 cu ft ($2.19 million/year) 898,000 cu ft ($59.8 thousand/year) 51,386,000 cu ft (3.42 million/year) Replacement Values $3.82 billion ($1,207/tree) $1.02 billion ($796/tree) $205 million ($798/tree) $1.93 billion ($1,283/tree) 8

9 9/3/2015 Health Values Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) Estimates the health impact and economic benefits for changes in air quality. Ozone, SO2, NO2 PM2.5 and PM10 Annual Pollution Removal and Value for Phoenix Projects Lead to Sustainability Process Tree Inventory Urban Forest Resource Analysis Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Cool Urban Spaces Project Southwest Forests Air Quality i-eco study Outcomes 9

10 9/3/2015 Strategic Planning for Urban Forests Adaptive Management What do you have? Is it working? What do you want? How do you get there? The more you know Care Buy-in Success! 10

11 What do you have: RESEARCH Ordinances Staff Planning Documents External Documents And the list goes on What do you have/want: OUTREACH Internal External Internal Outreach What do you want to find out? Alignment with city goals 11

12 External Outreach What do you want to find out? Alignment with city goals Who is the problem? Who has the solution? External Outreach Meetings Surveys Interviews 12

13 (End) Result Getting there Road Map Funding The F word Project Program On-going sources 13

14 The Tree and Shade Master Plan An investment strategy for a healthier, more livable and prosperous Phoenix 14

15 Benefits of Trees: Solution Multipliers A low risk, high-yield investment for the community Water quality, storm runoff Air quality, carbon sequestration Energy costs Property values Business Community safety and livability Average ROI of $2.23 in the Phoenix area McPherson et al, 2004 Benefits of Trees Human Health and Well-being Livable communities Building community attachment and meaning Wellness, active living, healing, mental health Lowering crime, area safety Street safety Education and learning 15

16 Right Tree Right Place Poor planting choices lead to problems and expense years after installation (maintenance/removal/replacement). Poorly pruned trees to fit the location. Select for establishment and natural growth and development. Design with mature plant development in mind. Remember root development, not just branches. 16

17 9/3/2015 Urban Forest Sustainability 17

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21 9/3/2015 Sustainable Design Concepts Education and outreach coordination for new capital and development projects. Review Zoning and Development standards. Ordinance and city code review and enforcement. Citywide departmental communication. Continued maintenance training and acceptance of BMP s citywide. Tree and Landscape Ordinances Neighborhood Services, Street Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Historic Preservation. Encroachment of trees, shrubs or bushes prohibited. Vandalism in a City Park. Unobstructed passage in streets and alleys. Responsibility for streets, alleys, and sidewalks. Removal of debris, rubbish, weeds, overgrown or dead vegetation and other unhealthy or unsafe conditions on streets, alleys and sidewalks Obstructing visibility at intersections Exterior premises and vacant land. 34 Trees and vegetation. Information and Education Public relations Communication Partnerships Informed citizens and policy makers Education 21

22 Information and Education Questions? Thanks for your Attention! Richard Adkins Dana Karcher 22

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