Urban Forests Influences on Daily Life and Business - Essay Example

Final Report Urban Forest’s influences on daily life and business Urban forestry is a form of biophysical urban forest ecosystems management which is both dynamic and complex. The focus of managing urban forests is on acquisition of non- tangible benefits. Sustainable urban forest management decisions focus on human safety, health, and psycho – socio benefits and tree disturbance by engineering works. According to (Urbanforestrynetwork, nd), these benefits include social, aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits. From an economic point of view, urban forests provide increased property values, (Arborday, nd). Urban forests sustainability largely depends on the people’s attitudes, character and activities on urban trees such as planting, land development, plant injury and pruning. Users of urban forests include the public, private enterprises and local economic groups among others. Management bodies formulate appropriate policies; apportion appropriate resources and manpower to implement urban forest projects. Managers must consider how to integrate public safety of urban forested areas and open spaces into the planning and management of urban forests. Tree selection is critical to ensuring that urban forests are diverse, healthy, and adapted to the urban environment, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2005). Urban forestry is a form of biophysical urban forest ecosystems management which is both dynamic and complex. It comprises of all trees found within a city, amidst large human populations and artificial infrastructure. Reports in Arborday (nd), indicate that this practice has a variety of benefits which benefit the lives of all urban dwellers. The focus of managing urban forests is on acquisition of non- tangible benefits. Sustainable urban forest management decisions focus on human safety, health, and psycho – socio benefits and tree disturbance by engineering works. These benefits include social, aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits. With the tremendous growth of urban areas and a subsequent high population growth outside the urban areas, urban forestry forms a fundamental basis of human livelihood. Rapid urban growth poses a threat to both the ancient natural forests as well as the urban forests. Urbanization causes a potential risk of changes in the social systems and attitudes, with a notion of less environmental concern and consumption behavior. Unfortunately, local planning procedures fail to consider the impact of urbanization in regards to community development. This causes a challenge to the local management agencies and forestry departments due to insufficient availability of resources to curb them. Some of these challenges include unmanaged outdoor recreation, destruction of natural landscapes and loss of biodiversity. Economic Goods and Services As an economic good and service, urban forests reduce energy costs in summer and winter through provision of shade and wind protection respectively. The vegetation cover provided by urban forests reduces temperatures up to 2°F for every 10% increment in vegetation cover. Considering the high industrial activity levels in urban centers, urban forests provide a variety of industrial waste management solutions, John F. Dwyer1et al, (2003). Tree foliage naturally filters particulate matter in the air, and other pollutants such as ammonia, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides. Considering that vegetation intakes carbon dioxide and produces oxygen in turn during the process of photosynthesis, the overall effect of reduced air pollution by urban forests cannot be ignored. Recent studies record that the urban forests store an average of 650 million metric tons of Carbon in the United States. Also emerging from urban forests are the opportunities for urban wood use as well as landscape waste of bio fuels. The urban forests also reduce storm water runoff, flooding, potential sources of water pollution and adverse effects from hurricanes and coastal storms. Society depends on urban forests in several aspects. Urban forests increase community capacity, increased interaction leading to sharing of economically viable ideas and decision making in healthy areas. Research also reports that accessible open air space reduces chronic fatigue which emanates from urban lifestyles. The urban forests also provide safety and civility values such as general calming effect and increased traffic safety. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2005) reports that management institutions such as the Urban Forestry Administration have the primary function to keep the District’s canopy healthy, safe and growing. From an economic point of view, urban forests provide increased property values, which leads to increased spending and visitation in the forested commercial centers, preservationtree.com (n.b). In the long run, urban forests assist a variety of stakeholders in society to appreciate the nation’s rural forests and natural resources, thus leading to increased support for urban forest management activities. Impact on Ecosystems Sustainability of urban forests as an economic good and service is an issue of concern in any given urban setting. John F. Dwyer1et al, (2003) attributes this to the dynamic and diverse nature of the urban forests environment. However, urban forests sustainability largely depends on the people’s attitudes, character and activities on urban trees such as planting, land development, plant injury and pruning. Urban tree mortality rates depend on the maintenance and tending activities adopted by the management body. Considering the high value of urban trees as well as their slow growth rates, then a substantial amount of effort must be injected so as to reduce loss of large urban trees. For the urban community to enjoy benefits accrued from urban forestry, it may take several centuries before the planted trees become large enough to make substantial contributions. The establishment and maintenance of urban forests requires a substantial amount of resources as well as community infrastructure. The financial burden required to purchase a large amount of planting stock limits the management body from fully implementing the activity, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2005). This is due to the fact that the projects depend on annually allocated funds, amidst increased financial burdens at the municipal level. With an increased awareness of the social and economic benefits accrued from urban forests, prompt implementation and management of urban forests should be adopted. This calls’ for co-ordination and support from the state, business and education institutions in order to effectively plan and efficiently manage urban forest resources. Users of urban forests include the public, private enterprises and local economic groups among others. The public experiences the largest amount of benefits from urban trees. This could be attributed to the fact that it is comprised of a diverse number of personnel with different age groups, sex and social class. The wellbeing of the public is fundamental in any community setting since it determines the community’s productivity in education, growth and economics, (Arborday, nd). Due to the nature of activities in urban centers, most residents experience stress. This is because the activities require aggressiveness, timeliness and delivery of quality goods and services. The urban environment offers traumatic events and situations amidst other persistent stressors which disrupts people’s normal lifestyles. Some examples of chronic stressors include financial strain experiences and complex family and community settings. Research reports that nature provides a natural remedy to stress and general wellness through providing experiences which ease the mind and heal the body. The effect of nature on human wellbeing can be explained using two theories. The stress reduction theory as proposed by Roger Ulrich explains emotional and physiological reactions to natural spaces. The theory claims that the exposure of individuals to a non-threatening natural environment activates a positive affective response, a sustained alertness and relaxation, as well as an inclination to approach such natural elements. Individuals visiting natural environment settings experience reduction in negatively toned feelings, with a simultaneous increase in physiological conditions. These conditions include an elevated heart rate and blood pressure as well as decreased stress levels (Arborday, nd). The attention restoration theory by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan explains responses to the effects of natural settings. Its main focus is on cognitive processes, as reported in (Arborday, nd). The theory proposes that the human being’s capacity to mentally focus depend on the surrounding environmental conditions. Activities which demand prolonged and effortful focus deplete mental attention, thus leading to frustration, low concentration levels and fatigue. In this theory, restorative environments assume four features, fascination, compatibility, extent and being away. Fascination is an essential feature for cognitive recovery since it attracts attention involuntarily. Nature provides the opportunity to recover from mental fatigue due to its element of soft fascination. Though similar in conditions present, the two theories differ in their claims of the innate sources of nature response as well as different restorative outcomes. A report from the World Health Organization claims that two of the leading causes of premature death in developed nations are stress and low physical activity. Unlike moderate and high stress levels, chronic low- grade stresses may lead to unhealthy psychological and physiological reactions. A view of nature produces recovery benefits from high stress levels at initial stages. The study asserts that individuals who spend great amounts of time or are frequently visit natural green spaces experience low stress levels and restoration. Natural green environments such as urban forests enhance the conduct of physical exercises frequently, which enhance restorative effects (Arborday, nd). The study further reports that people who lived in homes built within urban forests had higher levels of coping with major life issues than those in concrete neighborhoods. Likewise, exposure to natural green sites enhance appropriate infant birth weight particularly in lower socioeconomic groups. For the aging group, individuals conducting outside physical activities such as gardening experience smaller physical and perceived stress levels compared to those who conducted exercise indoors, thus preventing aging. A study on the Shinrin Yoku community whose main activities are forest walking reported an improved immune system response, low glucose levels in diabetic patients, as well as reduced stress and depression. Local economic groups also benefit from urban forests. For purposes of public decision making, knowledge on the monetary value of things in society is fundamental, (Preservationtree, 2012). Growth of trees in the urban areas is done for the provision of intangible services and benefit, as compared to other market goods which can be bought and sold. Evaluations made by local economic group provide information useful to investors, businessmen and other profit generating firms in decision making. Some non market valuation methods are used by social scientists and economists to convert intangible benefits from natural assets to dollar sums. Development costs in an area where trees are contained are high. Investors can therefore use this information to secure homes located in wooded lots for sale at higher selling prices so as to recover the extra costs. Large trees have greater benefits to the environment as compared to smaller growing trees. This can increase the value of buildings or homes from 3% up to 15% for streets or yards which have large trees. According to urbanforestrynetwork (nd), this eventually leads to a concurrent increase in government revenues through taxes. In Portland for example, the average market effect of streets with trees on al houses sums up to $1.35 billion. This potentially increases annual tax revenues from properties by $15.3 million. A similar effect on the value of property is felt on houses next to naturalistic parks and open spaces. Compared to similar properties, those located in urban forested environments are valued at 8% to 20 % higher prices. These increased prices decrease as one moves away from the urban forested area. Commercial offices with high quality landscapes accrue 7% higher rental rates than those on poor landscapes. Likewise, a study on customers reveals that they would be willing to spend 12% more for goods sold in the central business districts which have high levels of tree canopy. Shoppers would be willing to travel to forested urban centers located at a further distance from their locality for general satisfaction as well as spend some time in the given environment. Drivers and pedestrians largely depend on vegetation cover along the roads for safe driving as vegetation assists in producing beneficial mood changes, coupled with tension relief. . Streets found in cities serve as public spaces where people interact, walk, shop and other urban activities. Urban forests enhance transportation safety as a roadside vegetation benefit (Urbanforestrynetwork, nd). Studies reveal that the public judges communities having roadside vegetation positively, and rate the onset of a town or city visually as the roadside vegetation increases. Pedestrians also prefer longer routes with natural vegetation as compared to shorter ones with artificial infrastructure. This is because they provide aesthetic satisfaction, shade and a relaxation effect. Another driver to this attitude may be due to the low occurrence levels of littering, vandalism or graffiti in natural landscapes. These kinds of environments are characterized by quite neighborhoods with less occurrences of domestic violence. This causes the pedestrian to experience a sense of security as crime rates decrease by 50% in urban forested areas. A well managed urban forest reduces fear since it increases defensible space and citizen surveillance. Urban areas expose people to anger and frustration from stressful experiences, and may lead to aggressive driving which is unsafe. Driving across an urban forested area leads to an immunization effect through a decrease in magnitude in the response to a subsequent stressful task. Commuting via vehicles in urban settings is an exhausting activity, especially when curbed with heavy traffic and long distance trips. Urban forests provide a natural scene, which translates into stress reduction and low frustration levels as compared to those viewing buildings and other artificial structures. Transport regulatory bodies use reports from studies done on rural roads to formulate transportation safety guidelines. According to Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2005), these guidelines advocate for the reduction of roadside transportation along curves since they pose a high risk to the occurrence of accidents. Records from annual accidents made reflect less than 1% of crashes made on trees in an urban setting. Recent studies also report a 46% decrease in crash rates in urban roads and highways on which improved landscaping was implemented. The authenticity of these reports is based on the fact that community based roadside designs are structured through scientific research carried out in over 3 decades. This is done so as to confirm the social, environmental and economic benefits accrued from efficient landscapes and plantings in the urban setting. Use of EGS in avoiding Environmental and Business Risk Management bodies formulate appropriate policies, apportion appropriate resources and manpower to implement urban forest projects as well as supervise maintenance activities. Managers must consider how to integrate public safety of urban forested areas and open spaces into the planning and management of urban forests. Proper design and use of the built environment can reduce both fear and incidence of crime. Management bodies recognize the benefits of urban forests, as well as the decline in urban canopy cover resulting from urban development and infrastructure as seen in Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2005). Existing municipal afforestation goals and urban forestry plans focus on urban canopy cover. However, they depend on particular geographic locations and land use. Conclusion Urban foresters examine urban forest composition, demographics, growth and structure in relation to urban landscapes. This includes a provision of pruning and maintenance services so as to prevent canopies which obstruct roadside and street vision. During the implementation of urban forests, management bodies emphasize on tree planting programmes which involve the participation of the members of society. This increases a sense of ownership and induces a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment. Due to the complexity of urban forests, management systems also adopt the principles of silviculture and ecological management as an effective framework in managing these resources. This is done with an aim of maximizing environmental, social and economic benefits provided by urban forests. References Urbanforestrynetwork. (nd). Trees Have Aesthetic Value and Improve Property Values. Retrieved from http://urbanforestrynetwork.org/benefits/aesthetic.htm Arborday. (nd). Benefits of Trees. Retrieved from http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm Preservationtree. (2012). How Trees Increase your Property Value. Retrieved from http://www.preservationtree.com/blog/how-trees-add-property-value Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. (2005). "Sustaining the Urban Forest." Planning our Landscape, ECO Annual Report, 2004-05. Toronto, ON: Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. 201-205. Dwyer, J., Nowak, D., & Noble, M. (2003). SUSTAINING URBAN FORESTS. Journal of Arboriculture, 29(1), 49-63. Read More