Trees & Community LivabilityTrees & Community Livability
Kathleen L. Wolf, Ph.D.
Research Social Scientist
University of Washington - Forest Resources
Kathleen L. Wolf, Ph.D.
Research Social Scientist
University of Washington - Forest Resources
Livable?
or Lovable!?
Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with the pretty.
It expands through successive stages of the beautiful, to values as yet uncaptured by language.
Aldo Leopold
forest “restoration” forest “restoration” && schools schoolsParks & People Foundation, Baltimore
nature recovery & schoolsnature recovery & schools
Parks & People Foundation, Baltimore
first phase - reading circlefirst phase - reading circle
Parks & People Foundation, Baltimore
forest recovery forest recovery && schools schools
Parks & People Foundation, Baltimore
school asphalt recoveryschool asphalt recovery
Parks & People Foundation, Baltimore
participation - civic ecologyparticipation - civic ecology
daily experiences of nearby naturedaily experiences of nearby nature
community gardens - renewalcommunity gardens - renewal
““3rd place” 3rd place” && social cohesion social cohesion
Trees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveableTrees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveable
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
Physical Activity & ObesityNature and Walkable PlacesPhysical Activity & ObesityNature and Walkable Places
majority of Americans not active enough
goal-30 minutes per day of moderate activity
risk factor for chronic diseases (heart, stroke, cancer, diabetes)
significant costs to national health services
majority of Americans not active enough
goal-30 minutes per day of moderate activity
risk factor for chronic diseases (heart, stroke, cancer, diabetes)
significant costs to national health services
310-580,000 deaths per year
$100 annual billion medical costs (1995)
9.4% of all U.S. medical costs
310-580,000 deaths per year
$100 annual billion medical costs (1995)
9.4% of all U.S. medical costs
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1985
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1986
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1987
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1988
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1989
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1990
No Data <10% 0%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1991
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1992
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1993
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1994
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1995
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1996
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1997
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1998
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥200
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1999
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults2000
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults2001
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
(*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults2002
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults2003
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults2004
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Doubling of adult obesity rate since 1980.
Durham, NC
parks, open spaces & trails
parks, open spaces & and parks, open spaces & and trailstrails
walkable walkable neighborhoodsneighborhoods
make room for make room for pedestrianspedestrians
Trees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveableTrees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveable
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
Trees and Traffic Safety, Wolf & Bratton, July 2006, Arboriculture & Urban Forestry
funding: US Forest Service, NUCFAC
Problem!
Drivers run off the road and crash into trees
U.S. traffic accident rates in 2002
Roadside Trees & Safety
Bratton and Wolf, Trans Research Board, 2005 Wolf & Bratton, Arb & Urban Forests, 2006
M. Norris, Australia ISA, 2005
Annual Fatality Risks:
fatal urban tree crash
1: 100,000
Behavior & Safe Driving!• Crashes occur on weekends, late evening hours• Winding rural roads, vehicle leaves road on
outside of curves• Male traffic fatalities outnumber female 2 to 1• Drunk driving - about 50% of all traffic fatalities• Seat belt use reduces risk of death by 42%• Travel speed exceeds posted speed -
about 30% of fatalities
Psychological Traffic Calming“body language of the street”“mental speedbumps” D. Engwicht
Psychological Traffic Calming“body language of the street”“mental speedbumps” D. Engwicht
complete streets home zones
complete streets home zones
Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
dangerous & ugly
Streets are inadequateStreets are inadequate
No room for people
Complete the Streets!Complete the Streets!cars/pedestrians/bikescars/pedestrians/bikes
Home Zones (Dutch “woonerf”)integrating the street into everyday lifeHome Zones (Dutch “woonerf”)integrating the street into everyday life
Home Zonestraffic calminggreen streetsfestival planningplay spacesmulti-modal transport
Home Zonestraffic calminggreen streetsfestival planningplay spacesmulti-modal transport
Trees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveableTrees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveable
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value of properties
Do property prices “reflect” the value of community trees?
Hedonic AnalysisHedonic Analysis statistical test of green characteristics
and property market price (linear regression)
statistical test of green characteristics and property market price (linear regression)
sales price of properties =
propertyattributes
+ neighborhoodattributes
presence of trees & green
+
Hedonic Analysis - 1960s to dateHedonic Analysis - 1960s to date
vertical vertical forestsforests
marketmarketvalue?value?
City of Chicago, City Hall City of Chicago, City Hall roof gardens/ecosystemsroof gardens/ecosystems
Nashville, mixed use bldg Nashville, mixed use bldg roof gardens/ecosystemsroof gardens/ecosystems
Trees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveableTrees in Communitiesmaking them livable AND loveable
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value
of properties
trees & public health trees & transportation trees & economic value
of properties
www.cfr.washington.edu/research.envmind