Presented By: Michael T. Rains USDA Forest Service May 23, 2013 The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA FS R&D: Discovery and Innovation.

Presented ByPresented By::

Michael T. RainsMichael T. RainsUSDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service

May 23, 2013May 23, 2013The Wharton School, University of PennsylvaniaThe Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

FS R&D: Discovery and Innovation at the Highest Level UES.1

R&D: Research and Development

Expanding the Stewardship of America’s Expanding the Stewardship of America’s

Urban Natural Resources: Urban Natural Resources: The Role of the USDA Forest Service The Role of the USDA Forest Service

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What We Will Cover…Quickly:

Rural to UrbanLand

Gradient

The“Philadelphia

Site”

InvestmentsNew

Directions

The PhiladelphiaField Station

Urban Natural Resources

Stewardship

Public-Private Partnership

Urban WatersFederal Partnership

Landscape ScaleConservation

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Science Themes1.Forest Disturbances Processes2.Urban Natural Resources Stewardship3.Sustaining Forests4.Providing Clean Air and Water5.Natural Resources Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment

National Forest System State and Private Forestry

Department of Agriculture

USDA Forest Service

Northern Research Station

Research and Development

USDA Forest Service

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Northern Research Station

NRS Geographical Footprint

20 states plus 4 (FIA).

140 scientists at 24 sites.

14 research work units.

23 Experimental Forests.

Challenges:

Future predictions.

Forest disturbances.

Urban stewardship.

Sustaining forests.

Clean air and water.

Forest inventory.

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Rural

Urban

In 1920, the urban and rural population were about equal.

Now, it is about 83% urban

Urban and Rural Population in the United States (1790 to 2000)

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1. The majority of Americans live in urban areas.2. This trend will continue.3. We must be more attentive to the urban natural resources

to help improve people’s lives.

A Driving Question: How can we ensure sound Urban Natural Resources Stewardship (UNRS) in order to “…effectively link environmental health with community well-being?”

3 Major Points to Think About UNRS

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1. In the past, the Forest Service cared primarily for rural lands and served people in that setting.

2. Now, we are emphasizing “caring for land and serving people, where they live” -- including the urban setting.

John, don’t you just love

the West?

A Rural to Urban Land Gradient

…FAST FACTS… 851 MM Acres for Forestland in U.S. 134 MM Acres = National Forests. 103 MM Acres = Urban Forests. Forest Service has a direct and indirect role on about 80 % of all forestlands.

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The Formal Beginning of “Urban and Community Forestry” in the Forest Service Was To:

“…to ensure the benefits of preserving existing tree cover in urban areas and communities”

The Beginning; 1978

“…An appropriate focus then; now too narrowly defined.”

“…An appropriate focus then; now too narrowly defined.”

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We Are Moving From an “Urban and Community Forestry” Program To “Urban Natural Resources Stewardship.”

“…A much more comprehensive

approach.”

“…A much more comprehensive

approach.”

UNRSNow

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“Urban Natural Resources Stewardship” Includes Several Themes:

Sustaining and expanding the urban natural resources. Environmental literacy. Job and career opportunities. Economic development and diversification. Generating and managing information. Partnership and intergovernmental coordination. Citizen engagement and volunteerism.

UNRS

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Science Themes1.Forest Disturbances Processes2.Urban Natural Resources Stewardship3.Sustaining Forests4.Providing Clean Air and Water5.Natural Resources Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment

Urban Field Stations New York City, NY Baltimore, MD Evanston, IL Philadelphia, PA

National Forest System State and Private Forestry

Department of Agriculture

Research Work Units Philadelphia Field Station

USDA Forest Service

Northern Research Station

NRS-08

Research and Development

Urban Field Stations We are expanding our public service

role!

We are expanding our public service

role!

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Mission: “…to foster collaboration and facilitate science, science-delivery, and communication to improve Urban Natural Resources Stewardship.”

Northern Research Station

Sarah Low:PFS Coordinator

Sarah Low:PFS Coordinator

Dr. Dave NowakRWU LeaderSyracuse, NY

Dr. Dave NowakRWU LeaderSyracuse, NY

PFS officially launchedby Forest ServiceChief, Tom Tidwellon March 10, 2011

PFS officially launchedby Forest ServiceChief, Tom Tidwellon March 10, 2011

Philadelphia Field Station

Urban Natural Resources Stewardship

RWU NRS-08: Urban Forests, Human Health, and Environmental Quality

Philadelphia Field Station (PFS)

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Philadelphia Field Station (PFS)

Location: The Pennsylvania Horticultural

Society100 N. 20th Street - 5th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19103Telephone: 215-988-8800

UNRS Focus: Research Science-delivery Communications Tools (new technology)

Think “Landscape Scale”: The scope of the PFS is broad. Think “Landscape Scale”: The scope of the PFS is broad.

PFS

PFS Current Staff: Sarah Low, Coordinator and

Biological Scientist Michael Leff, Research

Urban Forester Becky Schwartz, Science

Delivery and Outreach Intern Jason Henning, Research

Urban Forester Michelle Kondo,

Postdoctoral Fellow Lara Roman, Research

Scientist

Michael ♦ Sarah ♦ Michelle ♦ Becky ♦ Jason

Lara

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Philadelphia Field Station (PFS)

Think “Landscape Scale”: The scope of the PFS is broad. Think “Landscape Scale”: The scope of the PFS is broad.

PFS

Resource analysis (including development of methods for responding to natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy).

Integrated modeling (with an emphasis on linking ecological changes with economic impacts).

Futuring methods (allowing stakeholders to explore alternative futures, identify desired futures and develop strategies to get there).

Some New Directions

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The New “Philadelphia Site” (Delaware River Watershed)

The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP)

Philadelphia Field Station (PFS)

Including: Chester, PA; Wilmington, DE; and, Camden, NJ

USDA; NOAA; and DOI Co-Leaders

“…From the water’s source to the faucet, the Partnership is ‘banding together, sharing resources and avoiding duplication’ to improve America’s waters and the associated communities.”

A coordinating roleA coordinating role

7 Original Pilot Projects

11 New Sites

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Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: We must embrace the notion now and form a stronger, more cohesive program direction for our land and the people we serve, where they live.”

Epilogue

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Questions?

“…Think big, act big”