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