Post on 12-Jul-2015
LAS 682
Urban Forest &
Management
AUSTIN, TEXAS URBAN FOREST
Prepared By:
SITI NURATHIRAH BINTI BAHRUM
ADRIKA ARIFF BIN ABD HAMID
AIMAN AGUS SYUKRI BIN SUMIRAN
MOHAMMAD HASIF BIN APANDI
MUHAMAD ZARIFF BIN MOHD NOOR
SAZUAN AFIFI BIN NAWI
Checked By:
En. Abd. Haris bin Shamsuddin
AUSTIN, TEXAS URBAN FOREST
Austin’s urban forest provides millions of dollars annually in social, economic, and environmental benefits to the community and enhances the quality of life for Austin residents. As the city continues to grow and
develop the urban forest remains an integral part of the Austin landscape, quietly performing as one of the most invaluable community members and
infrastructure components.
Austin’s urban forest is a healthy and sustainable mix of trees, vegetation, and other components that comprise a contiguous and thriving ecosystem
valued, protected, and cared for by the City and all of its citizens as an essential environmental, economic, and community asset.
AUSTIN, TEXAS URBAN FOREST
Issues & Problem
• Temperatures higher than 100degrees fahrenheit in
• The city basks in sunlight 75percent of the time
• City buildings and pavedstreets reflecting back thissunshine and heat
• Temperatures in austin can betwo to nine degrees hotterthan in the surroundingcountryside
URBAN HEAT ISLAND
program management
Neighbourhoods
This program began in Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and is now administered through a contract with the non-profit Tree Folks, distributes between 3,000 and 4,000 trees to Austin
Energy customers for planting near the city streets in the right of way. While technically these trees are on city land, Austenite are responsible for maintaining the trees and vegetation growing there,
which means that neighbourhood support is a key element of the program.
program management
Sapling Days
This event will hold during fall. On these select days, approximately 3,000 tree saplings are given away to Austin-area residents for planting on their private property, as much of the available space for expanding the
city’s urban forest is available on homeowners’ land.
program management
Expands the Tree Canopy
On private land is through its Austin community trees program, a partnership among neighbourhoods, Austin’s planning and development review department, parks and recreation department and Austin energy. Through this program, the city offers 10 species of large shade and small understory trees for planting on private property in neighbourhoods with low tree canopies. This program specifically aims to engage neighbourhoods in greening the city.
program management
Green Roof Stakeholder Group
Sometimes, though, especially in downtown spaces, trees may not be a feasible solution to urban heat island reduction, so in 2009, the Austin City Council passed a resolution to create a green roof stakeholder group to “explore the feasibility of offering energy and storm-water credits and other incentives, based on
performance, to encourage the creation of green roofs in the city.”
program management
Great Streets Programs
This program was designed to improve the quality of downtown streets and sidewalks. Great Streets works with
private developers to create streetscapes that go above and beyond the city’s minimum requirements. To
encourage private developers to improve their streetscape plans, the city offers financial assistance to help offset the
costs of streetscape work beyond the city’s minimum standards.
SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION
The City of Austin is losing one of its most important assets, the beautiful live oaks and red
oaks that form a shady, green canopy over the city. These oak trees are being threatened by a
contagious disease called oak wilt.
Over the past twenty years, Austin has lost more than 10,000 oaks to the deadly and infectious oak wilt disease. For both individuals and the City as a whole, this loss is felt by increased
utility bills, reduced property values, and a sense of devastation.
The Treaty Oak is once a majestic tree in Austin, Texas. In 1997, the Treaty Oak produced its first crop of acorns since the vandalism. City workers gathered and germinated the acorns, distributing the seedlings throughout Texas and other states. Today the tree is a thriving, but lopsided reminder of its once-grand
form. Many Texans see the Treaty Oak today as a symbol of strength and endurance
The Treaty Oak
The City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) began the Oak Wilt Suppression Project in 1988. The purpose of the project was to educate the public, locate the disease, provide technical and cost-
share assistance, and monitor treatments for any continued spread.
Suppression Project
Conclusion
The urban forest in Austin, is mostly comprised of over-mature oaks and semi- mature “weedy” trees. Although most of the tree care practice is reactive versus proactive, there is potential for urban forest growth and development. Mature trees are reaching later stages of decline with little effort of improving tree vigour or vitality. Utility pruning is on-going; throughout the city numerous trees have utilities present in their
vicinity.
The End