Urban Forest Canopy
City of Portland - City of Portland Urban Forest Canopy Report NEW An assessment and accounting of Portland’s urban forest canopy. Portland Bureau of Environmental Services - Vegetation Benefits in the Urban Environment
This summary report outlines the numerous benefits of revegetation and preservation of existing vegetation in the urban environment.
Arif Kahn - Depave.orgA new (Spring 2007) local project. Learn how to depave the urban landscape for more esthetically pleasing communities and healthier watersheds.
University of Illinois - Green Streets not Mean StreetsVegetation May Cut Crime in the Inner City
Oregonian - Don't Blame Trees IILetter to the Oregonian by Jim Labbe
Oregonian - Don't Blame TreesLetter to the Oregonian by Mike Houck
University of Washington - Trees and TransportationContext Sensitive Design is a new approach in transportation planning that recognizes community values. Roadside vegetation and green spaces are often valued features of transportation corridors. This site lists studies that investigate of public values regarding trees and vegetation in urban vehicular use areas.
USA Today - Some cities are finding money does grow on treesCities are starting to treat trees less as decoration and more like public utilities now that they can calculate how much money trees save by cutting air pollution, storm runoff and energy costs.
Center for Watershed Protection - Urban Wateshed Forestry ManualThree-part guide to urban forestry for watershed protection and restoration:
Part 1: Methods for Increasing Forest Cover in a Watershed.
Part 2: Conserving and Planting Trees at Development Sites.
Part 3: Urban Tree Planting Guide
USDA Forest Service - Center for Urban Forest ResearchResources on Urban Forestry
International Society of Aborculture - Tree Ordinance GuidelinesModel Ordinances
Urban Trees & Air Quality IA great summary of the effects of urban trees on air quality.
Urban Trees & Air Quality II: Mortality and Morbidity Benefits of AirThe grim title of this report belies the richness of its summary research.
Urban Trees and Air Quality III: Study of West Midlands EnglandExamined the urban West Midlands region of England (900 km2, population 5.3 million) and estimated that doubling the number of urban trees would lower atmospheric particle concentrations by 25% and reduce related-human mortality by 140 people a year.
Urban Forest Canopy Report in Portland, Oregon, 1972-2002By Joe Poracsky and Michael Lackner. Documents a slight but consistent increase in forest canopy within the City of Portland over the 30 years with some significant increases and declines in forest canopy at the neighborhood scale. General increases in older neighborhoods may be directly related to tree planting efforts. Another interesting and useful outcome of this study was suggested targets for forest canopy recovery in residential and commercial neighborhoods.
Urban Ecosystem AnalysisAn urban ecosystem analysis completed by American Forests in October of 2001 documented the net loss of urban tree cover in the Portland-Metro Region between 1972 and 2000.