Approach
In most cases, disturbances will not lead to complete loss of vegetation, but the remaining trees may have some degree of damage. After urgent severe hazards are dealt with, it is important to assess the damage to the remaining urban forest. This is the time to prioritize the level of importance for removal of severely damaged trees. Every attempt should be made to retain and restore amenity trees, especially legacy trees. The retention of these trees can help provide ecosystem services while new trees and other vegetation are becoming established.
Tactics
- Urban natural areas: Retaining nonhazardous dead and damaged trees for wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services.
- Developed urban sites: Removing remaining severely damaged trees that were not immediately removed during emergency response.
- Developed urban sites: Implementing appropriate tree crown restoration pruning strategies for less severely damaged trees.
- Developed urban sites: If possible, standing fallen trees back up and using stakes or guy wires for support until the root system is structurally stable (usually newly planted trees or trees less than 4 inches in diameter).
Strategy
Strategy Text
Urban areas, in particular, may face dramatic impacts as a result of climate change-related alterations in disturbances, including pest outbreaks, floods, and storm events. As with natural ecosystems, some of the best opportunities for addressing disturbance-related impacts may occur immediately after the disturbance event; having a suite of preplanned options in place may facilitate an earlier and more flexible response. Urban areas faced with disasters are provided the opportunity to rebuild, and can use this opportunity to create an urban landscape that is better aligned with current and future climate conditions.
Swanston, C.W.; Janowiak, M.K.; Brandt, L.A.; Butler, P.R.; Handler, S.D.; Shannon, P.D.; Derby Lewis, A.; Hall, K.; Fahey, R.T.; Scott, L.; Kerber, A.; Miesbauer, J.W.; Darling, L.; 2016. Forest Adaptation Resources: climate change tools and approaches for land managers, 2nd ed. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 161 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-87-2,