A Needs-Driven, Multi-Objective Approach to Allocate Urban Ecosystem Services from 10,000 Trees.

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.

SUBMITTER: Almeter A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6605077 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature