Digital Commons @ Connecticut College

Title

A Review of Urban Forestry History, Evaluation, and Management Planning for New London, CT

Authors

Phoebe Eckart, Connecticut College

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2018

Comments

Advised by Glenn Dreyer and Maggie Redfern, Connecticut College Arboretum

Abstract

Urban forestry is a growing discipline seeking to further the development of sustainable cities. In the current climate of rapid and widespread urban development, it is crucial to prioritize urban greenspaces and green infrastructure. There is remarkable work nationwide in the development of sustainable urban forestry management plans, but these resources are not widely accessible to smaller municipalities, such as New London, Connecticut. It therefore is imperative that a review of urban forestry history, resources, and best practices be compiled, with the goal of encouraging greening cityscapes for places like New London. CT. Urban forests are crucial for public health and environmental protection, and provide a host of benefits such as pollution reduction, improved community development, carbon sequestration, and stormwater and erosion control. Drawing on academic, government, and NGO resources, as well as other sources, this paper explores historic and current efforts in the field of urban forestry. I review the motivations for maintaining an urban forest, as well as the history of urban forestry development in New England. This project was inspired by an internship with Casey Trees, an urban forestry non-profit in Washington D.C. which gave me a taste of urban management and research. To incorporate this experience, I will then conduct two brief case studies on urban forestry efforts in Washington, D.C., and New Haven, CT and how these examples can deepen urban forestry efforts in New London, CT. This review indicates that a three-part framework for urban forest management plan development including management of vegetation resources, community and policy frameworks, and resource management is key. This paper encourages the use of existing resources in coordination with the needs on specific cities, rather than creating a one-size-fits all proposal with limited accessibility and affordability and cultural compatibility with the given community.

Recommended Citation

Eckart, Phoebe, "A Review of Urban Forestry History, Evaluation, and Management Planning for New London, CT" (2018). Other Publications and Reports. 4.
https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/arboretum_otherpubs/4