A Conversation About Urban Forest Stewardship in Uncertain Times

Presentation given virtually to Piedmont Master Gardeners on February 5, 2026.

Transcript

1. Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 A Conversation About Urban Forest Stewardship in Uncertain Times P. Eric Wiseman, PhD Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech vtuf@vt.edu linktr.ee/EricWiseman Source: markdenneyphotography.com
2. Presentation Overview Purpose Share some personal observations that may prove helpful to local urban forest stewardship • A look at urban forest benefits (and costs) • Current (and future) threats to urban forests • Actionable takeaways to support urban forests • Your questions and reflections 02 • 30 Outline Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: E. Wiseman
3. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 03 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
4. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 04 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 A fundamental element of sustainable urbanization is creating, managing, and conserving green infrastructure • Energy • Water • Materials • Pollution • Waste • Land Conscientious use of… Source: seagrant.noaa.gov Source: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu
5. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 05 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Green infrastructure is the harnessing of nature and incorporating it into the urban infrastructure system to provide ecosystem services and protect people and the environment from the impacts of urbanization Source: www.asla.org/greeninfrastructure.aspx Source: www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_RiskMAP_nature-based-solutions-guide_2020.pdf GI is an example of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for societal challenges
6. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 06 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Large Woody Perennial • Lots of leaf surface area to absorb air pollution • Tall canopies cast shade on buildings and outdoor spaces • Broad canopies overhang impervious surfaces and intercept rainfall • Store lots of carbon • Sturdy landscape features • Renewable resource for fuel and fiber • Store carbon for decades • Provide year-round ecosystem services • Provide high return-on-investment Trees are integral to green infrastructure Source: E. Wiseman
7. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 07 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Urban Forests Source: Forests 2025, 16(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010012 Source: www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/new-york/stories-in-new-york/canopy-factsheets-nyc
8. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 08 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 When urban forests are not managed properly, trees may cause problems for people and the built environment ENVIRONMENTAL • Water consumption • Carbon costs • Fertilizers & pesticides • BVOCs • Invasive plant species • Nuisance wildlife species SOCIAL • Physical harm • Fear and anxiety • Nuisances • Health hazards • Environmental injustices • Neighbor disputes ECONOMIC • Maintenance costs • Infrastructure costs • Insurance costs • Liability costs • Health care costs • Work-school absences
9. Conceptualizing Tree Benefits 09 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Messaging about Tree Benefits Source: www.nationalgeographic.com • Seek to first understand what people value in their lives and communities • Don’t overstate or overgeneralize tree benefits • Don’t minimize concerns about costs or risks of trees • Acknowledge past inequities in tree planting and maintenance • Empower the community to be a partner in choosing and placing trees
10. Presentation Overview Purpose Share some personal observations that may prove helpful to local urban forest stewardship • A look at urban forest benefits (and costs) • Current (and future) threats to urban forests • Actionable takeaways to support urban forests • Your questions and reflections 10 • 30 Outline Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: E. Wiseman
11. Threats to Urban Forests 11 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: www.coopercenter.org/research/new-virginia-population-projections-2030-2050 Source: www.coopercenter.org/virginia-population-projections
12. Threats to Urban Forests 12 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 in Virginia Source: www.builderspatch.com/housingcount/us-states/virginia Source: www.hbav.com/new-hbav-housing-trends-brief-signals-caution-resilience-in-virginia-housing
13. Threats to Urban Forests 13 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: abigailspanberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spanberger-Affordability-Plan_L7-1-2.pdf Source: www.governor.virginia.gov
14. Threats to Urban Forests 14 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: saportareport.com/atlanta-we-can-have-it-all-density-affordable-housing-while-protecting-our-tree-canopy Source: www.freepik.com/premium-photo/view-from-densely-built-residential-houses How Government is Responding • “Streamlining” permit review and approval processes • “Upzoning” to allow for higher-density development
15. Threats to Urban Forests 15 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/66413 Developed: 51% net increase 50 mil. acre gain Forest: 3% net decrease 12 mil. acre loss
16. Threats to Urban Forests 16 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/64468
17. Threats to Urban Forests 17 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/64468
18. Threats to Urban Forests 18 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: USDA Forest Service. (2024). Virginia’s Forests, 2021. Southern Research Station Resource Bulletin SRS-240. • Forest gains on agriculture lands and farm abandonment has steadily declined (Orange and Red) • Forest losses to agriculture have slightly increased (perhaps solar farms? Blue) • Forest losses to development have leveled off but remain high (~30,000 acres annually. Green) Annualized Land-Use Change in Virginia (2005-2021)
19. Threats to Urban Forests 19 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: Brownson, K. et al. (2025). State of Chesapeake Forests Storymap. Available online at: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/67940e8f3ce44e9bb645845d0981e7c7 64,000-square-mile area Over 18 million people
20. Threats to Urban Forests 20 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: Brownson, K. et al. (2025). State of Chesapeake Forests Storymap. Available online at: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/67940e8f3ce44e9bb645845d0981e7c7 Source: chesapeaketrees.net/understand-your-canopy
21. Threats to Urban Forests 21 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: Nowak, D. et al. (2022). Assessing Urban Forest Threats across the Conterminous United States. Journal of Forestry. 120(6): 676-692. Urban Tree Cover Change Index, 2010-2060
22. Threats to Urban Forests 22 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 DIRECT THREATS INDIRECT TREATS o Forest Land Conversion (sprawl) o Urban Infill Development (density) o Lack of Green Infrastructure Plan o Inadequate Greenspace Design o Limited Management Resources o Lack of Tree Protection BMPs o Lack of Re-Planting Trees o Extreme Weather Events o Invasive Pests and Plants o Urban Stress Factors - Heat and Drought - Degraded Soil - Pollution Source: stevekingonsustainability.blogspot.com, March 10 2013
23. Threats to Urban Forests 23 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: cities4forests.com/lg-urban-forests Source: caseytrees.org/resources- list/tree-space-design-growing-tree-box
24. Presentation Overview Purpose Share some personal observations that may prove helpful to local urban forest stewardship • A look at urban forest benefits (and costs) • Current (and future) threats to urban forests • Actionable takeaways to support urban forests • Your questions and reflections 24 • 30 Outline Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Source: E. Wiseman
25. Actionable Takeaways to Support Urban Forests 25 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 CONSERVE EXISTING COVER “Take care of what you’ve got!” REPLENISH NEW COVER “Plant trees!” Intrinsic Motivations Property Value Commerce Health & Well-Being Educate About: Benefits / Consequences Extrinsic Motivations Zoning Ordinances Resource Protection Areas Conservation Easements Financial Inducements
26. Actionable Takeaways to Support Urban Forests 26 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 • Urban forests require space • Urban forests require funding • Urban forests require advocates • Urban forests require knowledge • Urban forests require planning • Urban forests require expertise Community Industry Government Scientists Professionals But it isn't easy or simple…
27. Actionable Takeaways to Support Urban Forests 27 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Municipal Non-Profit Residential Commercial Framework for Stewardship Investment in Stewardship Space for Stewardship Advocacy for Stewardship
28. Actionable Takeaways to Support Urban Forests 28 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 Continuum of Care for Urban Forest Sustainability Selection Planting Maintenance Recycling
29. Take Home Messages 29 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 • Urban forests are critical green infrastructure that provide nature-based solutions to urban sustainability issues • Urban forests have tradeoffs between their benefits, costs, and risks that we must acknowledge if trees are to be valued • Climate change, housing demand, and economic instability are major threats to urban forests • Urban forest stewardship requires investment, partnership, and commitment to the continuum of care Source: unsplash.com/photos/UewgGfZgYj0
30. P. Eric Wiseman, PhD Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech vtuf@vt.edu linktr.ee/EricWiseman Source: www.presentermedia.com 30 • 30 Piedmont Master Gardeners • February 5, 2026 A Conversation About Urban Forest Stewardship in Uncertain Times