Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 46(2): March 2020 after ten years. Energy savings from trees can be maximized by proper species selection, planting loca- tion, and orientation (Sawka et al. 2013). Maximizing benefits often starts with tree species selection; how- ever, there are a variety of other factors that are crucial to a tree’s success (e.g., maintenance, citizen engage- ment, and proper planting techniques). The cost of maintaining trees in urban areas can be reduced by selecting an appropriate tree species for the planting location. If the tree is too large for the site, it may limit the mature size and increase mainte- nance costs. It is important to invest in proper instal- lation and maintenance in order to increase survival rates of newly planted trees (Koeser et al. 2014). Often trees planted in the public sector outgrow their initial space and conflict with utilities or other types of built infrastructure. Additionally, the perceptions of citizens can play an important role in the success of an urban forestry program. Trees with a large amount of leaf litter or allergens are often considered undesir- able. Careful planning and the regular maintenance of the urban forest can alleviate many of these conflicts (Escobedo et al. 2011). Arboriculture Certification There is a long history of planting trees in urban areas and, with an increase in urbanization and a greater understanding of tree biology, there has been a grow- ing need for tree management. Arboriculture is a major component of urban forestry, but is often unregulated. The International Society of Arboricul- ture (ISA) is one of the more prominent organizations and helps to set industry standards; these standards are optional and are driven by participation from con- sumers and arborists. There are comparable certifica- tions in other states, such as the Massachusetts Certified Arborist (Rines et al. 2011). Having a pro- fessional certification from the ISA helps to differen- tiate arborists who have met basic competencies and are engaging in continuing education from those who are not. Elmendorf et al. (2005) showed that among the arboriculture community there was strong support for ISA certification, and it raised industry standards overall. Additionally, tree selection was ranked highly among education topics for arboriculture programs (Elmendorf et al. 2005). The Arbor Day Foundation is another organization that helps set guidelines for urban forestry and is responsible for the Tree City USA designation. These cities are required to spend 149 $2 per capita on urban forestry, celebrate Arbor Day, maintain a tree board, and have a tree ordinance (Arbor Day Foundation 2017). Statement of the Problem There is an array of benefits for carefully weighing different criteria for tree species selection. Many of these are obvious, such as longevity and increased biodiversity; however, some managers may be basing their selections on outdated criteria or lack the infor- mation to make the best selection. There are new tools (e.g., electronic inventories) that can help pro- vide managers with more information. Careful con- sideration of management activities and ecological diversity could become increasingly important as a greater percentage of the landscape becomes urban- ized (Vogt et al. 2017). Both the benefits and threats to urban forests have been well-documented; how- ever, it is important to determine how the public funds are being used for tree species selection and in turn how urban forest management is being conducted. Recognizing the importance of proper tree selection, this study sought to examine the criteria urban forest managers in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States were using. It was important that all respondents used a consis- tent definition of what a tree is to avoid spurious data. Roy et al. (2012) conducted a literature review on urban trees and their benefits; this study similarly defines an urban tree as a woody perennial with lat- eral branches that originate some distance from the ground and reach a mature height of 12 feet (3.6 m) or greater. Additionally, both single and multi- stemmed trees were included. Only trees that origi- nated within the boundaries of a municipality and were planted on public land were included—growing both in clusters and singularly. Furthermore, seed- lings were excluded and only trees that were a height of 4 feet (1.2 m) upon planting were counted—this included bare root, container, and balled and burlap trees. The broad definition, and inclusion of multi- stem trees, was designed to assess the full potential for diversity of the urban forest. Urban forest describes all the plants and green spaces within the boundaries of the municipality. Urban trees are a highly visible component of the urban forest, and they contribute to the social, economic, and ecological health of the municipality. ©2020 International Society of Arboriculture
March 2020
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