Using urban forests to increase community resiliency to climate change

Transcription

1 Using urban forests to increase community resiliency to climate change Andy Whitman Local Solu<ons: Northeast Climate Change Preparedness Conference Manchester, NH 20 May 2014 supported by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, as recommended by the Na<onal Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council in 2010.

2 Talk Outline Urban forests are valuable Urban forests are vulnerable WeatherWise Checklists: Strategies for Urban Forests

3 They are the most valuable forest type in NE Annual Value (dollars) / acre Forest: non-urban Forest: urban Forest: suburban Forest: riparian Forest: light cut Forest: heavy cut 3

4 They provide key benefits (ecosystem services) 6000 Annual Value ($) / Year Amenity Cooling Air Pollution Control Willdife habitat Water Quality Other Cultural Vegetation Recreation Soil Erosion Control Water Supply Total 4

5 Climate change will affect our urban communi<es Stormwater overflows Drought Extreme heat More air pollu<on Road surface damage 6/2/14 5

6 Urban Forests and Trees Very likely that urban forests will be affected. Timing and magnitude of change uncertain.

7 Forests and Trees Very likely that forests will change. Timing and magnitude of change uncertain.

8 and will make it harder to maintain urban forests Heat stress Drought Flooding Severe storms (wind, ice storms, uproo<ng) Air pollu<on Insect pests Exo<c species 6/2/14 8

9 Urban Forests can reduce climate change impacts Moderate storm damage/impacts Moderate temperatures (e.g., for homes, heat island effect) Reduce peak water flows & flooding Absorb air pollu<on Keep sediment out water bodies Maintain community a_rac<veness 6/2/14 9

10 How do we adapt? Focus on Urban Forest Plan Land Use Planning Ordinances 6/2/14 10

11 Four parts: WeatherWise Checklists Awareness: Get prepared Plan: Have a plan Do: Select appropriate strategies and Best Management Prac<ces (BMPs) Check: Monitor progress 11

12 Get prepared General knowledge about climate change Community specific knowledge about poten<al threats 12

13 Checklist for Urban Forest Plan Goals and objec<ves Loca<on informa<on Protec<on and maintenance ac<vi<es Neighborhood area descrip<ons and inventory 13

14 Forest Plan i- Tree Suite Program Canopy Design Eco Vue Descrip2on Tree canopy cover, area of cover types, and key benefits in Google Earth. Tree benefits and ideal plan<ng zones in Google Earth. Uses your inventory data to quan<fy forest structure and key benefits. Es<mates cover types and some forest benefits urban, community, and private forests. 14

15 Checklist for Land Use Plans Vision Future role of urban and community forest Future land use plan Highlight value of urban and community forest for resiliency Highlight vulnerable forest area Ac<on Plan Natural resources Key a_ributes (highlight urban and community forests) Planning considera<ons (climate change opportuni<es/ threats) General ac<ons and their actors (what/who) Appendices Public Facili<es and Services Inventory - Highlight key urban and community forest resources and services (arborist, etc.) Natural resources inventory Highlight key climate- related vulnerabili<es of urban and community forests Op#onal - Climate Change Ac<on Plan mi<ga<on & adapta<on 15

16 Do: List of strategies & BMPs for urban forest plans Tree Management and Health Local Climate Regula<on Air Quality and Green House Gas Sequestra<on Wildlife Water Quality Amenity Value and Recrea<on 16

17 Tree Management and Health Strategy #1: Increase urban tree cover BMP: Provide homeowner incen<ves for plan<ng and maintaining yard trees. Worcester Tree Ini<a<ve Chicago Toronto h_p:// 17

18 Tree Management and Health Strategy #2 Maintain species, structural & age class diversity BMP: Diversify species mix to reduce risk of catastrophic loss of urban trees. h_p:// 18

19 Tree Management and Health Strategy #3: Maintain & increase species that are resilient to climate change BMP: Plant tree species favored by warming weather Red maple Sweetgum BMP: Reduce dominance of vulnerable species Ash spp. Eastern hemlock 19

20 Tree Management and Health Strategy #5: Use tree and shrub species na<ve to the region and/or eastern North America. BMP: Plant na<ve trees and shrubs when possible BMP: Track exis<ng and emerging threats of invasive species Buckthorn Japanese Barberry 20

21 Other strategies Local Climate Regula<on Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Sequestra<on Wildlife Water Quality Amenity Value and Recrea<on Most adapta2on BMPs are prac2ces that manage general risk not just climate change 21

22 Do: Checklist for Tree and Community Forest Ordinances Urban ordinances can focus on: Reducing tree loss Mandatory replacement of trees lost Reduc<on of trees lost during construc<on Expanding tree cover Plan<ng areas with impervious surfaces Plan<ng unused grassed areas Plan<ng with new construc<on (energy use) Maintaining highway and buffer cover Control exo<cs Plant trees (air pollu<on) Maintaining na<ve species Restrict plan<ng of exo<c species on municipal land 22

23 Do: Checklist for land use Community forest ordinances can focus on: Reducing forest loss Incen<ve zoning Conserva<on subdivisions Cluster developments Shore land zoning Easements on public forests Crea<on of a community forest system Maintaining na<ve species Establish a tree board or forestry commission Educa<on of landowners 23

24 Monitoring: Checklist for urban forest plans Forest Plan: Monitor urban forests for Tree mortality Pest and disease infesta<ons Tree canopy cover (neighborhoods, high- intensity areas) Forest Plan: Monitor forests for: Flooding (including sea level rise) impacts Habitat decline/loss Pest and disease infesta<ons Exo<c species General changes in fire risk Land use plan: Monitor forests for: Flooding Forest cover loss (overall, watersheds, riparian areas) General changes in fire risk 24

25 Three points (summary) Urban forests are key assets Urban forests are at risk to climate change Use local strategies to make urban forests more resilient, enhance their benefits, and make communi<es more resilient 25

26 Acknowledgements Advice from Chris Cabot, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust & Brunswick- Topsham Land Trust Tom Hoerth, City of Bath Jan Santerre, Project Canopy, Maine Forest Service Julie Evans, Northern Forest Center Si Balch, New England Forestry Founda<on Amanda McHaffey, Forest Guild Peter Baecher, Town of Brunswick Rod Melanson, Town of Topsham Funding from: USDA Forest Service, Na<onal Urban and Community Forest Advisory Commi_ee Orchard Founda<on