Approach
Many trees in urban areas are individually selected for a particular site, allowing a high degree of flexibility. Species selection for a given site can also take likely future climate conditions into account. For example, flood-tolerant species may be selected for areas that fall into a moderate-risk flood zone because flooding in the area is projected to increase. Matching planted trees to a range of current and future conditions is likely to be more feasible than attempting to alter growing conditions to match a preferred tree species. Furthermore, selecting trees that are known to be well matched to growing conditions may increase the trees’ ability to reach maturity, contribute to a healthy forest, and provide environmental benefits.
Tactics
- Urban natural areas: Planting dry-mesic species in mesic sites that are projected to become drier.
- Urban natural areas: Planting heat-sensitive species on north slopes or in cold air drainages.
- Developed urban sites: Selecting species that can withstand poor site conditions near roads maintained with salt, sand, or other winter additives and that also can tolerate a range of other climate-related stressors.
- Developed urban sites: Selecting trees that are hardier to extreme storm events and less likely to break up when pruned correctly, especially in wind-prone areas.
- Developed urban sites: Planting tree species that are less sensitive to increased flooding and ponding in low-lying areas expected to get wetter.
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,