Book Description
Trees and related vegetation have long been planted in citiesfor a variety of reasons. From trees with special religious significance inancient temples to trees captured in planters adjacent to our newest officebuildings, we have sought to accompany our urban lives with somerepresentation of nature. During the past few decades, individuals andsociety have placed a much greater emphasis on urban vegetation. As citiesbecome larger and more complex, trees may exist in them through carefuldesign, through poor design, or by accident. Urban Forestry addresses howto carefully and successfully plan for and manage vegetation as part of anurban ecosystem. This edition provides information on all aspects of thefield, including the history and uses of urban vegetation, appraisal andinventories, the planning process, and management and maintenance. Conceptsare elucidated throughout the text with numerous photos, tables, linedrawings, graphs, and charts. The nine appendices add to the book'susefulness for both students and professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces
It is an interesting book.Relatively easy to read.Well organized.It would be nice to have more examples.Lists are good but they need to be substantiated.I also found the appendices to be nearly useless.There are many many pages of appendices and they really do not serve any purpose.It would be better just to delete those pages and give us a cheaper price.I bet we paid a lot for those appendices.So yes the price is high.I would liked to have seen many more diagrams.The ones present are helpful.The book needs editing in some sections.Overall, I give it a 3.5.

The Ultimate Book for Urban Forestry Professionals
A must-have for the any professional working in the urban forestry field. Contains excellent information regarding the need for urban trees and themanagement of an urban forest.It is written in a conversational tone,making it easy and interesting to read. ... Read more

Amazon.com
North America's cities may be crowded and tumultuous places of steel and glass, but there is scarcely one of them that does not have some quiet forested corner, some green place of solace and repose. Arthur Plotnik, the author of the fine writer's handbook The Elements of Editing, celebrates such places in The Urban Tree Book, an information-rich, entertaining guide to the trees you are likely to encounter in places such as Toronto, Washington, Vancouver, and Kansas City. (For residents of cities farther south and west, he includes a section on palm trees.) A late bloomer--he writes that he came to an appreciation of city greenery not as a naturalist, but as a writer given to staring out his window at a cluster of silver maple, ash, and horse chestnut trees--Plotnik has mastered a wide variety of materials. He describes not only the ranges, biology, and life histories of some 50 common urban trees, but also gathers oddments of folklore and nicely appropriate bits of urban history, such as, for instance, the fact that Al Capone favored an ash bat "to keep his goons in line."

As Plotnik observes, at the dawn of the 21st century, 75 percent of all North Americans live in cities. In his pages these urbanites will find a wealth of information to help better acquaint themselves with the natural life that perseveres in their midst. --Gregory McNameeBook Description
Open The Urban Tree Book and discover the joys of forest trekking--right in your city or town. This first-of-a-kind field guide introduces readers to the trees on their block, in neighborhood parks, and throughout the urban landscape. Unlike traditional tree guides with dizzying numbers of woodland species, The Urban Tree Book explores nature in the city, describing some 200 tree types likely to be found on North America's streets and surrounding spaces, including suburban settings.

With telling descriptions and precise botanical detail, this unique guide not only identifies trees but brings them to life through history, lore, anecdotes, up-to-date facts, and hundreds of fascinating characteristics. More than 175 graceful illustrations capture the charm of trees in urban settings and depict leaf, flower, fruit, and bark features for identification and appreciation.    

The Urban Tree Book will inform even the most knowledgeable plant person and delight urbanites who simply enjoy strolling beneath the shade of welcoming trees. An engaging excursion into the "urban forest," this complete guide to city trees will both entertain and enlighten nature lovers, urban hikers, gardeners, and everyone curious about their environment. Includes a tree planting-and-care section, tree primer, and exploration guide
Is backed by the expertise of the renowned Morton Arboretum
Incorporates new "urban forestry" perspectives
Covers urban trees across the continent
Lists key organizations and institutions for tree lovers
Selects the best tree sites on the Internet
Updates many guides by 20 years ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

indispensable for an urban stroll

The Urban Tree Book richly deserves its five stars. I am a bit of an afficionado of tree books; I actually enjoy reading most field guides and I often hike with several in my backpack. For the urban environment, though, I have found none as thorough or as well-written as this book.

Plotnick begins with a short description of general features of trees and a brief description of important vocabulary. The writing achieves an excellent balance, being neither overly technical nor overly simple. The drawings are also quite well done. Even from the beginning, they illustrate and complement well the points in the text.

Then, the majority of the book covers the trees themselves. Each treehas its own little chapter which includes names, decriptions, stories, and lovely drawings. I really appreciated how the stories focus on the trees in the context of the urban environment. I have seen this emphasis in no other book.

Plotnick ends with a short glossary, further resources, and an index.

In summary, if I were to carry only one book on a stroll through a city, this would be the book.

A Mighty Acorn of a Book
I got this book to help me learn about--not just identify--my neighborhood trees. It's excellent. It's written for the layman, and it is so comprehensive and interesting to read.

I've gone through much of this book with my kids, who, because they're city-dwellers, rarely get a chance to thoughtfully examine the fauna that's all around us. Now my 9-year-old can explain differences between maples as well as point out ash, linden, and several species of oak.

This book is great for people who want to train themselves to notice details, like leaf arrangement, general shape, and bark patterns. It makes you a better observer, and it helps you notice much more than the trees themselves (like what lives on, or in, them).

This is fun to take on a walk through the park.

A Tree Grows in Nashville
I bought this guide when it first came out and enjoyed every tree, word and atticism.I am going to revisit this wonderful book to journey back into the life of a city's street trees.Wonderful, delightful and perfectly good reading for the neighborhood tree-hugger.A must have for any one who appreciates trees and literature.Mr. Plotnik gives us a vortiginous account of what trees are."It's not what you look at, but what you see." - H.D.T.

I will always keep this book close at hand throughout my journey through life.Excellent.Vostellung!

A budding Peattie?
When after all those rave reviews I bought a copy I was slightly dissappointed. This is an unassuming paperback. There are books on trees you buy for the illustrations: this is not one of them. The illustrations are nice, even tasteful (although I assume they would look a lot better in color) but are nothing more than just that, an illustration of the text.

However, when actually reading in the book I was quickly forced to the conclusion that this is a real find. Arthur Plotnik not only is inspired by trees, he also did his home-work (in a big way!) and he surely can write. This book reminds me very strongly of D.C.Peattie, as he would write if he were to live today. What can I add to that?

P.S. I can add that this book has an impressive list of references for further reading and a perhaps even more impressive list of internet sites on trees.

An Uncommonly Fine Field Guide
Typically, when I browse learned books, be they history, science, art, whatever, if the author's qualifications to teach me about the subject don't measure up, they go back on the shelf.Talented amateurs have their place, but with so many good books out there, I can't afford to risk having my time wasted.

This book is a great exception.By touching only lightly on the dry botanical aspects of the trees, and focussing on their characters, the author shows confidence in the subject while letting his enthusiasm and wit have full rein.

Again, most illustrations drawn by authors' partners usually serve for breaking up the text.Not these.The unison between the illustrations and the textual descriptions is evidence of true collaboration and a rare conjunction of talent.

If you're interested in "those big things with the leaves", and you don't happen to live in a forest, but this book. ... Read more

Product Description

This book is designed to be used as a textbook for Urban/Community Forestry courses and a handbook for Shade Tree Commissions, tree wardens, State and National Forestry Services, and professional societies. The chapters have been written by experts in each subfield who are active practitioners.

Customer Reviews (1)

Finally, reliable Urban Forestry Information for the NE
This is an excellent review of Urban Forestry practices in general and certainly the permier book for UF in the northeast!Topics are up-to-date and efficiently covered.Contributing editors are some of the top people in the field of Arboricultue/Urban Foresty.Most chapters have excellent examples/visuals and references.A must have for anyone concerned about trees the the urban environment. Cost is steep ... let's hope for a soft-cover edition! ... Read more

Book Description

Urban landscapes formerly shaped by heavy industry are evolving all over the world. The associated processes enhance the evolution of a new kind of wilderness. In regions such as the German Ruhrgebiet, vast post-industrial areas have already been re-colonised naturally by forests. These new types of urban woodlands are often overlooked by ecologists, foresters and planners. The book provides a first concise overview of ecological features and potential social functions of this new kind of urban wilderness. The general chapters provide introductions and conceptual approaches from the perspectives of ecology, environmental sociology, forestry, nature conservation and landscape architecture. They are illustrated by a broad array of case studies from England, Germany and Japan.

Book Description

This book covers all aspects of planning, designing, establishing and managing forests and trees and forests in and near urban areas. The disciplinary background of the authors is varied, ranging from forestry and horticulture to landscape ecology, landscape architecture and even plant pathology.

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Prairie Garden, published by Manitoba Prairie Garden Committee on January 1, 2004. The length of the article is 692 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Urban forestry a component of communities in bloom.
Author: Mike Allen
Publication: Prairie Garden (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2004
Publisher: Manitoba Prairie Garden Committee
Page: 57(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Mississippi Business Journal, published by Venture Publications on February 9, 2004. The length of the article is 1235 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Urban forestry promotes business, while improving quality of life.(Focus: commercial & residential real estate)
Author: Becky Gillette
Publication: Mississippi Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 9, 2004
Publisher: Venture Publications
Volume: 26Issue: 6Page: 25(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This handbook helps neighborhood groups, local officials, and city planners develop urban forestry projects, not only to beautify their cities, but also to help reduce energy demand, improve air quality, protect water supplies, and contribute to healthier living conditions. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is a journal article from Landscape and Urban Planning, published by Elsevier in 2007. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
This study evaluates ''woodland in the ecological style'' as a setting for contemporary housing by means of a case study of Birchwood, Warrington New Town, UK, using a postal questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to reveal residents' perceptions of the aesthetic and safety aspects of the woodland, together with its underlying meanings. Most Birchwood residents liked the visual appearance of their street, though they had both positive and negative feelings towards its ''trees and greenery''. Woodland in the local area figured prominently amongst the residents' favourite places though some feared that they would be the victims of physical or sexual assault, or of robbery or intimidation from groups of young people in the woodland, and women felt particularly vulnerable. Whilst the woodland was significant for many residents it was not strongly identified with Birchwood as a place: the quality of the community as symbolised by the behaviour of local individuals, community groups and institutions was regarded as a more potent measure of local identity. Colourful and well-tended landscape interventions had the ability to act as signs of a caring community. The contribution of these findings to theoretical frameworks of residential satisfaction, restorative experiences and place identity is discussed: it is suggested, inter alia, that whilst signs of individual and collective care in the landscape contribute to communal place identity, individual experiences of wilder urban green spaces, including those of a restorative nature, are formative of individual place attachment. The implications for planning, design and management with ecological woodland are explored: urban dwellers should be able to choose their preferred way of interacting with the woodland, residential settings should accommodate a wide variety of user needs, and the vegetation on and around the streetscape should be proactively managed in consultation with the community. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Environmental Management, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Urban trees in Hong Kong exist in stressful and harsh habitat conditions due mainly to the exceptionally high-density development mode. This study focuses on the cream of the urban tree stock, the heritage trees, which were selected according to five sets of stringent criteria: species, dimension, structure, condition, location, and special considerations. The study area covers the main urban core of the city. The loss of trees in two periods, 1993-1998 and 1999-2003, was monitored, with the predisposing and direct causes of damages ascertained as far as possible. Of the 380 heritage specimens, 54 trees were lost in the survey period. The main predisposing causes were injuries sustained in roadwork and construction activities, both related to root damage and soil disturbance. The principal direct causes were recent gradual decline and abrupt demise due to typhoon breakage. Three pairs of contributing variables registered statistically significant associations (@g^2 test), namely predisposing cause versus direct cause, tree growth form versus direct cause, and survey period versus direct cause. Principal component analysis identified three factors that explained 70% of the variance, namely tree form, tree stature, and growth environment. The main reasons for the high mortality were explored. The possible applications of the findings to improve tree protection and management were discussed in relation to the overall planning for meritorious greenery and green space especially in compact cities. ... Read more