Journal article
A Needs-Driven, Multi-Objective Approach to Allocate Urban Ecosystem Services from 10,000 Trees
Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland), v 10(12), pp 4488-4488
01 Jan 2018
PMID: 31275621
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Urban areas face challenges including vehicular emissions, stormwater runoff, and sedentary lifestyles. Communities recognize the value of trees in mitigating these challenges by absorbing pollution and enhancing walkability. However, siting trees to optimize multiple benefits requires a systems approach that may cross sectors of management and expertise. We present a spatially-explicit method to optimize tree planting in Durham, NC, a rapidly growing urban area with an aging tree stock. Using GIS data and a ranking approach, we explored where Durham could augment its current stock of willow oaks through its plans to install 10,000 mid-sized deciduous trees. Data included high-resolution landcover metrics developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), demographics from the U.S. Census, an attributed roads dataset licensed to the EPA, and sidewalk information from the City of Durham. Census block groups (CBGs) were ranked for tree planting according to single and multiple objectives including stormwater reduction, emissions buffering, walkability, and protection of vulnerable populations. Prioritizing tree planting based on single objectives led to four sets of locations with limited geographic overlap. Prioritizing tree planting based on multiple objectives tended to favor historically disadvantaged CBGs. The four-objective strategy met the largest proportion of estimated regional need. Based on this analysis, the City of Durham has implemented a seven-year plan to plant 10,000 trees in priority neighborhoods. This analysis also found that any strategy which included the protection of vulnerable populations generated more benefits than others.
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Details
- Title
- A Needs-Driven, Multi-Objective Approach to Allocate Urban Ecosystem Services from 10,000 Trees
- Creators
- Andrew Almeter - Environmental Protection AgencyArik Tashie - Environmental Protection AgencyAndrew Procter - Environmental Protection AgencyTara McAlexander - Association of Schools and Programs of Public HealthDouglas Browning - Environmental Protection AgencyCharles Rudder - Environmental Protection AgencyLaura Jackson - Environmental Protection AgencyRochelle Araujo - Environmental Protection Agency
- Publication Details
- Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland), v 10(12), pp 4488-4488
- Publisher
- Mdpi
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- EPA999999 / Intramural EPA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000455338100154
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85057478201
- Other Identifier
- 991021448170704721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Green & Sustainable Science & Technology