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Studies
& Papers
Trees
and Community Economic Development
These
papers summarize the benefits that trees and forests provide
for urban dwellers and the economic valuation of such benefits.
Valuation approaches have been devised to assess the economics
of environmental services provided by urban ecosystems. Another
domain of value includes human services that are provided
by urban nature, such as productivity, wellness and mental
functioning. While scientists have confirmed such benefits,
translating these benefits into economic terms is still underway.
A potential benefit of immense economic impact is the role
of trees in walkable communities, with consequences for weight
reduction and improved health of millions of urban dwellers.
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Wolf, K.L. August 2007. City Trees and Property Values. Arborist News pp. 34-36. (284 K pdf) and (48 K pdf with citations ) |
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Wolf,
K. 2006. CONCEPT PAPER: Human Services Provided by Urban Forests: Economic Valuation Opportunities. (pdf
32 K) |
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Wolf,
K. 2005. Civic Nature: Valuation: Assessments of Human
Functioning and Well-Being in Cities. In: Forging Solutions:
Applying Ecological Economics to Current Problems, Proceedings
of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the U.S. Society for
Ecological Economics (July 20-23,2005). Tacoma, WA: Earth
Economics. (pdf
84 K) |
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Wolf,
K. L. 2004. Economics and Public Value of Urban Forests.
Urban Agriculture Magazine, Special Issue on Urban and
Periurban Forestry, 13: 31-33. (pdf
124K) |
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Wolf,
K. L. 2004. Public Value of Nature: Economics of Urban
Trees, Parks and Open Space. In D. Miller and J. A. Wise
(eds.), Design with Spirit: Proceedings of the 35th Annual
Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association.
Edmond, OK.: Environmental Design Research Association
(edra). (pdf
56K) |
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How
Cities Use Parks For... Economic Development. City Parks
Forum Briefing Papers # 3. American Planning Association,
2003
(pdf 392 K) |
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Urban
Forest Values: Economic Benefits of Trees in Cities -
Fact Sheet 3 (pdf
44 K) |
 Science Communications and Local Urban Forestry Policy
Scientific research has expanded our knowledge of urban forest functions and benefits, and technology transfer (TT) is used to share information with varied audiences. How effective are these TT efforts? A research study is evaluating the impact of TT on local government urban forest actions. The work is focusing on community change, using social science methods to determine the role of TT in local government decision-making and action regarding urban forests. Results will have implications for all U.S. communities, as outcomes will be used to improve both the quality of technology transfer products and the process of their transfer.
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Wolf, K.L. 2007. Public Ideas and Local Policy in Urban Forestry: Reflections on a Program of Portable Science. In: C.C. Miner, R. Jacobs, D. Dykstra, and B. Bittner (eds.), Proceedings: International Conference on Transfer of Forest Science Knowledge and Technology. USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-726, pp. 249-255. (pdf 3.5 M) |
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Wolf,
K. L. 2001. Messages That Stick: Sharing Information with
Decision-Makers. In C. Kollin (ed.) Investing in Natural
Capital: Proceedings of the 10th National Urban Forest
Conference. Washington D.C.: American Forests. (pdf
320 k) |
Assessment of Urban Forest Management in Washington State Cities
A statewide assessment of urban forestry management was done in three phases by the Center for Urban Horticulture (UW) in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Data were collected from most municipal governments in Washington State. Assessments included tree/forest inventories, code and ordinances, and management practices. Results from the three studies are summarized here.
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Wolf, K. L. 2007. Urban Forestry in Washington’s Cities and Towns. TreeLink, Washington Department of Natural Resources Community Forestry Program, No. 20, Fall. (3.9 M pdf) (1.9 M print version) |
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Urban Forestry Special Issue. January 2007. Western Forester 52, 1. (pdf 2.4 M) |
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Managing the Forests Where We Live: An Assessment of Washington State Cities - Fact Sheet 19 (pdf
436K) |
Urban Forestry Research Needs and Priorities - Pacific Northwest U.S.
Science and technology are key elements in effective planning, management and stewardship of city trees and forests. It is useful to periodically step back and assess achievements and needs concerning research efforts. An assessment of research needs focused on the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., and is being used to initiate urban ecosystems science in the states of Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
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Wolf, K.L., & L.E. Kruger. 2008. Urban Forestry Research and Technology Transfer: A Needs Assessment for the Pacific Northwest Region. Prepared for the Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 50 pp. (1.3 M pdf) |
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Wolf, K.L., and L.E. Kruger. 2007. What Should We Know? An Assessment of Urban Forestry Research Needs in the Pacific Northwest. In: Sustaining America’s Forests: Proceedings of the 2007 Society of American Foresters National Convention. Bethesda MD: Society of American Foresters., to policy (Portland, OR) (336 K pdf) |
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Research Needs for Urban Forestry in the Pacific Northwest Region - Fact Sheet 20 (pdf
164 K) |
U.S. National Urban Forestry Research Needs and Priorities
A national assessment was also recently done, and considered emergent science needs across the U.S. Research recommendations built on initiatives launched in recent decades, expanding on those science programs that have gained momentum. The research goals address a range of science needs including environmental, social and economic topics.
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Wolf, K. L. 2007. Goals of the National Urban Forestry 10 Year Research Plan. In: Sustaining America’s Forests: Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters 2007 National Convention. Bethesda MD: Society of American Foresters., to policy (Portland, OR) (260 K pdf) |
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Clark, J., W. Kruidenier, and K. Wolf. 2005. A National Research Plan for Urban Forestry 2005-2015. Washington D.C.: National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council/USDA Forest Service (pdf 6.1 M) |
International
Urban Greening
My sabbatical in Japan in 2003 expanded my research
interests to urban greening in Asian cities. Experiences at
the Awaji Landscape Planning and Horticulture Academy, or
ALPHA (near
Kobe) created opportunities for international collaborations.
Additional
Publications
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Clark, J. R., N. P. Matheny, G. Cross & V. Wake. 1997. A Model of Urban Forest Sustainability. Journal of Arboriculture, 23 (1), 17-30. (pdf
940 K) |
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Cutler, J. E. 2005. Reclaiming Trees. Urban Land 64, 11/12:112-117. (pdf
5.3 M) |
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