Quiet revolutions: neighborhood urban forestry programs

This study seeks to identify the key components that would enable neighborhoods to become responsible for the trees under which they dwell-their urban forest. Guidelines will be established for neighborhoods to use to compose a plan that allows them to create and sustain the tree population specific to their needs and desires. To develop these guidelines, this study is divided into two parts. The first section examines urban forestry. This review revealed several issues pertinent to urban forestry: (1) The urban forest is crucial to the health and beauty of the city and is directly linked to the well-being of the city\u27s inhabitants and, (2) there are simply too many trees in a city for municipal arbor crews to provide adequate care for them all. There are however, (3) other resources available to help citizens care for their urban forests. The second section presents case studies of three neighborhoods that have established successful urban forestry programs and projects. The case studies attempt to isolate the ideas, methods, and characteristics of urban forestry programs created and carried through at the neighborhood level. The case studies examine the neighborhood urban forestry projects of three southern neighborhoods: Boulevard Oaks in Houston, Texas; Inman Park in Atlanta, Georgia; and Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. The case studies examine these three different neighborhoods\u27 projects in terms of these specific components: project name, location, date created, progress to date, date completed, neighborhood description, project background, project goal, role of the project\u27s directors, role the neighborhood residents, maintenance, and lessons learned. As a result of the research and case study analysis, the necessary components were developed to help neighborhoods devise plans and implement urban forestry projects. The guidelines would enable interested neighborhoods to cultivate the urban forest that best meets their neighborhood needs