NTRES 2201 1st Edition Lecture 24Outline of last lectureI. Folk Valuation of Chestnut DiversityII. IntroIII. Narrowing categoriesA) Widest: ReadingsB) Second widest: AnthropoceneC) Third widest: Soule’s sinister sextetD) Fourth widest: Planet of the slumsE) Narrowest: Wall’s researchIV. Chestnut researchOutline of current lectureI. Guest lecturerII. IntroIII. CitiesIV. Benefits of nature in citiesV. Health benefitsVI. Community benefitsVII. Christine’s researchA) Millions trees NYCB) Research in IthacaCurrent lectureI. Guest lecturer*Name: Christine Moskell*Topic: Connecting People to Nature in Cities-We are learning about urban sprawl, but haven’t really learned about the actual environmental issues in the city-We tend to overlook urban areasII. Intro*Nature in an “expanding urban footprint”*Many people will never experience nature in its original form*Many people will only see snapshots of nature in urban areasIII. Cities*When we think of cities: gray infrastructure-Increased air pollution and smog-WasteThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-Cities use a lot of energy*Storm water runof-Washes pollution of roads, etc and into water bodiesIV. Benefits of nature in cities*Green infrastructure-Conversion from gray infrastructure to green infrastructure-To minimize the negative environmental impacts of traditional infrastructure-Ex: green roofs#Help cool the city#Reduced energy use#Filter air#Pollination*Porous pavement-Designed to act like soil-Rainwater soaks into the ground-Then the soil can filter all the pollutants from it-Can also have little spaces of vegetation among pavement-Or bioswales#”Rain garden”#Gardens next to pavement to catch runof*Parks-Central Park-We now have to be creative about fitting green space into cities-Ex: “pocket parks” or the high line*Sustainable, livable cities-Trees, plants-Also human health benefitsV. Health benefits*Biophilia Hypothesis (Kellert and Wilson) -Humans have an evolutionary attraction to nature-Ex: giving flowers to people who are sick-Ex: looking at pictures of cute cats-However, cities are stressful places and we forget about our attraction to nature-Science says having contact with nature can increase cognitive capacity and attention#Directed attention*Example: working on a paper#Involuntary attention*Example: looking up from your paper and getting distracted*This is passive, takes little energy*Nature is very good at grabbing our involuntary attention*Engaging involuntary attention through nature gives our direct attention a rest*Study-Having access to nature for a break improves you attention span-Window views in work settings can have the same efect-Similar efects occur with other access to nature#Potted plants#Nature pictures#Nature artwork*Window views of nature and health-Study: hospital patients with a window looking out onto nature recover more rapidly-Study: inmates with windows to nature got sick less often-The mechanism for this efect may be our evolutionary attraction to nature-Study: Window views of nature from home#Those with windows were happier with their neighborhood, less aggressionVI. Community benefits*Study: Robert Taylor Homes (Chicago)-Rough neighborhood (lots of crime, gangs, etc)-Building all built the same-All low income, mostly African American-Residents had their living places chosen for them-There were diferent levels of green space outside diferent buildings-Are these green spaces having an efect?#People gathered in an area correlated to number of trees#People living in apartments with green spaces reported more of a community connection#Similar studies find a very similar efect*Apartments with well-maintained vegetation outside had less crime and less violent*More greenery correlated with better community connectionVII. Christine’s research*Urban tree planting*Many large cities intend to plant treesA) Million trees NYC*Goal: plant one million trees by 2017*There are already 5 million trees on the street, in woodland, etc*NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and NY Restoration Project and other private partners*They have almost reached the goal of one million trees , and it is only 2015*Post-planting maintenance-Lack of resources put toward keeping them healthy -When they start dying, they cause more problems than they solve*Public opposition-Some people are not happy about the trees being in the cities#People were tearing up these trees#People got hit with branches during blizzard… casualties#This can cause people to be less willing to take care of these trees*Stewardship and tree survival-Putting little signs, etc can improve tree survival-Community development to help care for these trees-Challenges#Awareness of watering#Public or private responsibility?#Burdens*Resources*Physical ability*TimeB) Research in Ithaca*Ithaca’s urban forest-Requires quite a bit of maintenance-People have torn up these trees in the past-Now they have little gates*Street tree watering-It is important for trees to get enough water when they are newly planted-Tree watering bags#Fill the bag with water and it slowly seeps into the ground and waters the tree#Challenges: residents don’t necessarily know that it is their responsibility to fill the bags*Study: people are given postcards notifying people that they are supposed to water thetrees, then they measured soil moisture and gave surveys (control and test)-No significant diference in most categories of survey-Overall, on weeks when the mailings went out, the treatment group’s trees were watered better-This trend, however, went away eventually#People reported that the postcards were