Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 44(2): March 2018 directly or indirectly (through contractor sourc- ing) from nurseries and garden centers, their choice of tree is limited to what is in stock (Sydnor et al. 2010), and considering the specific motiva- tions that drive residents’ tree planting decisions (i.e., shade provision, size, shape, aesthetic), it is likely that a native tree may not be available that meets the specific planting motivations of the resident. It is also noted that garden centers and nursery employees are often not advocates of native tree species, and may not be able to rec- ommend a suitable native tree to meet residents stated requirements (Polakowski et al. 2011). Residents born outside of Canada indicated less support for native trees as compared to those who live in the municipality where they were born. This relates to Almas and Conway’s (2017) findings that immigrants are less knowl- edgeable about urban forest issues, while resi- dents who had lived at their house for over 15 years were more knowledgeable about native tree species in particular. Johnston and Shimada (2004) argue that municipalities often lack the tools to meaningfully communicate with immi- grants, and that terms like ‘native’ and ‘alien’ can be off-putting or offensive, discouraging further interest among immigrant populations. Based on this study, urban forest management plans appear to have had some relationship to resi- dents’ planting habits, such that residents are more likely to have knowingly planted a native tree. It is unclear if this is a result of the management plans, a result of Oakville and London (who have plans) properties having more available planting space, or if legacy effects from historic socio-economic conditions have impacted current canopy cover patterns (Luck et al. 2009; Boone et al. 2010). The presence of an urban forest management plan, and the availability of resources it takes to enact a plan, indicate there is some residential buy- in to managing the urban forest in London and Oakville, although that has not translated into a deeper appreciation for native tree species. Thus, making a management plan is not enough to ensure residential stewardship is in line with the plan’s goals. Municipal education and outreach undoubt- edly play a large role, as the results from the logistic regression indicate that those who plant native spe- cies tend to be more knowledgeable about native 111 species. Since the majority of residents’ actions appear to be guided by pragmatic decision-making that prioritizes aesthetics and tree functions over nativeness, a systemic approach that involves changing the species availability at the point of pur- chase (nurseries and garden centers) to represent a wider diversity of native trees would likely alter residents’ actions in favor of native species diversity. A first step that municipalities can take is to require more native species diversity and quan- tity in their tree-planting request for tenders from nurseries. As municipalities create a large demand for tree stock from the nurseries that bid on their tender, this action should cause the sup- ply side to adjust. In some instances, this type of supply-chain influence has been found to be more effective than educating residents (Summit and Sommer 1998). Though residents may still choose trees based on their aesthetic and functional value, if the available nursery stock represents a higher number of native tree species, the ratio of native to non-native trees residents select will likely shiſt. Most residents expressed generally posi- tive attitudes toward having native tree species in their yards and in public spaces. However, if costs and risks were greater with native species, fewer respondents were supportive of native- tree planting. Moreover, having a positive atti- tude toward native species did not necessarily translate into action. Given that presence of an urban forest management plan was not signifi- cantly related to native species attitudes, munici- palities with native species planting goals should engage in more education and outreach to ensure that residents do not just express support for native species but are willing to prioritize them when making species-selection decisions. Since knowledge of native trees was related to plant- ing native trees, educating residents about local ecology is a good first step toward native species stewardship. Additionally, working with nurs- eries to ensure a diverse supply of native trees could also help residents meet their pragmatic species criteria while selecting a native species. Supplemental Content. The appendix to this manuscript, Native Trees and Urban Forest Survey, is available for browsing on the web- site of the publisher, International Society of ©2018 International Society of Arboriculture
March 2018
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