What's New
- Urban Ecosystems
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The fact is, in the world that we've created for ourselves, cities occupy pivotal positions, for better or worse, in the patterns of global ecology. This becomes clear when we put aside our standard images of cities and consider their ecological functions.
- Nitrogen Mass Balance for an Urban Ecosystem
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One of our first projects has been to develop a detailed nitrogen balance for the CAP ecosystem, the first for an urban ecosystem.
- IDRC and the management of sustainable urban development in Latin America
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Today, the built environment is the most significant human environment. Globally, half of humanity now lives in urban settlements, while Europe and North America is 80% urbanized. These urban settlements have a disproportionate impact on the natural environment, consuming 75 percent of the world's resources and producing most of its waste (Sweet, undated).
- Your Trees Trouble May Be You
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Hits: 74
Added: July 26, 2002
Rating: Votes: 17 Rate It"Your Tree's Trouble May Be You!" is a companion to "A Tree Hurts, Too". They are part of a Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture program designed to provide information on the wise use and care of trees...some of our most versatile and renewable natural resources.
- Urban Trees and Shrubs
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A guide to the selection of trees and shrubs and their care in urban areas.
- Storms Over the Urban Forest
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Planning, Responding, and Regreening-- ``A community Guide to Natural Disaster Relief
- A Landowner's Guide to Building Foesty Access Roads
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Hits: 1
Added: July 26, 2002
Rating: Votes: 20 Rate ItRoads provide needed access to small woodlots; however, high costs, land disturbance, degradation of water quality, and destruction of fish habitat can all result from poor development, construction, and maintenance of forest roads. This guide was developed to give private owners of small woodlots the basic information needed to avoid these problems and protect valued natural resources.
- Wildland-Urban Fire Research Homepage
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Wildland-urban ignition research indicates that a home's characteristics and the area immediately surrounding a home within 100 to 200 feet principally determine a home's ignition potential during a severe wildland fire. I refer to this area that includes a home and its immediate surroundings as the home ignition zone.
- Earth Observatory: Natural Hazards
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Wildfire is a natural part of Earth's environment; sparked in most cases by lightning strikes and occasionally by volcanic eruptions. Wildfires consume a million or more square kilometers per year.
- Tree and Shrub Selection
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Educational materials containing tree and shrub selection information
- Pruning
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Educational materials containing pruning information
- Planting
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Educational materials containing planting information
- Urban Parks - on-line
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The Urban Parks Institute was established in 1996 to help improve the quality of urban parks, especially in underserved neighborhoods, by educating public, private and nonprofit sector leaders about best practices in urban park revitalization.
- Your Home in the Line of Fire
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Precautions you can take to protect your home.
- WDFW -- Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program
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A Department of Fish and Wildlife program to help you help wildlife around your home.
- Urban Forestry Center
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One of New Hampshires most unique resources is not found on a majestic mountain top... or in the states many lakes, rivers, and streams... or even within its wooded forests. Its actually located on a quiet road on the outskirts of Portsmouth, just waiting to be discovered by anyone who values New Hampshires woodlands and natural resources.
- Urban Forest Values: Economic Benefits of Trees in Cities
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Many important decisions in American cities are based on careful cost and benefit analysis of options. The values of trees and plants in our urban centers are often overlooked. Urban forests are a significant and increasingly valuable asset of the urban environment. Scientists have measured the tremendous returns that trees provide for people in cities.
- The Value of Landscaping
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The Value of Landscaping
- T.R.E.E.S. Project Overview
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Welcome to the T.R.E.E.S. Project. In these pages you will learn of some innovative, inexpensive solutions to many of Los Angeles' most persistent environmental and social problems. Until now, drought, flooding, air and water pollution, landfill closures, high energy costs, youth unemployment, and urban blight have appeared to be unrelated and virtually insurmountable challenges. And the problems have been addressed by separate agencies, often working at odds with each other.
- Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series
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Millions of dollars are spent each year designing, implementing, and maintaining urban landscapes. Unfortunately, long-term problems are caused when these processes are not carried out properly. Many of these problems can be avoided or reduced by utilizing sustainable landscape practices. A landscape developed with sustainable practices will improve the environment by conserving resources and reducing chemical applications.
- Smart Communities Network: Land Use Codes/Ordinances
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Community sustainability requires a transition from poorly-managed sprawl to land use planning practices that create and maintain efficient infrastructure, ensure close-knit neighborhoods and sense of community, and preserve natural systems. This section provides an introduction to key planning principles as well as resources for strategies, tools, and civic participation to help your community with sustainable land use planning.
- NUCFAC -- National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
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The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council is an organization that supports education, projects, and groups related to urban and community forestry. We seek to establish sustainable urban forests for all communities. Explore this site to find out more!
- Natural Landscaping Toolkit: Chapter 1
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This Source Book will: Explain the basic principles and benefits of natural landscaping; Demonstrate the feasibility of using natural landscaping successfully in the region; Provide information regarding the ways that local officials as community leaders can encourage the use of natural landscaping; Identify ways to avoid pitfalls that could result in poorly implemented natural landscaping or cause problems for local government;
- National Tree Trust
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Hits: 1
Added: July 18, 2002
Rating: Votes: 17 Rate ItThe National Tree Trust (NTT) was established as part of the "America the Beautiful Act of 1990" designated by President George Bush. Congress endowed the NTT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a one-time-only grant. The NTT mobilizes volunteer groups, promotes public awareness, provides grants, and unites civic and corporate institutions in support of local tree planting and education projects throughout the United States
- National Fire Plan
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Welcome to the National Fire Plan website--a cooperative, long-term effort of the USDA Forest Service, Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters. As you visit this site, you will see how the federal government and state partners are managing impacts of wildland fire to our Nation's communities.
- Iowa Urban and Community Forestry Council
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Hits: 1
Added: July 18, 2002
Rating: Votes: 18 Rate ItSixty-one percent of the roughly 2.7 million Iowa residents live in urban and community settings. Trees, whether growing along our community's streets, parks, riparian areas or within private properties, benefit climate, energy conservation, economics, social issues, landscape and aesthetics.
- Interface South
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Hits: 1
Added: July 18, 2002
Rating: Votes: 16 Rate ItInterface South was developed by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and Southern Region to heighten awareness of wildland-urban interface issues. It also addresses the growing need for information and tools by natural resource professionals, private landowners, homeowners and others affected by the changes occurring in southern forests.
- FIREWISE Web Site
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The Firewise Home Page was created for people who live or vacation in fire prone areas of North America. The information contained here will help you to become a firewise individual, and acquaint you with the challenges of living around interface/intermix wildfire.
- Fire Safe in the Interface
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Areas where homes meet the forest are called the wildland/urban interface. A home in a woodland setting is surrounded by flammable forest fuels - a real danger if a wildfire is on the loose. You can help minimize a fire threat to your home and family by following a few safety steps.
- Estimating Wind Forces on Tree Crowns
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Wind and gravity are the two primary forces acting upon tree crowns. The structural resistance to these forces by the tree require complex allocation ``processes and dedication of limited resources. Assessing the shear scale of both wind and gravity forces,...
