As part of exploring the complexity of human-forest interactions and efforts to use forests more sustainably, each semester students in Dr. Patrick Hurley’s “ENV-338 Forests & People” course undertake community engagement projects. One of these projects is more applied and centered on in-the-field stewardship or outreach efforts, while the other project seeks to engage a community partner or individuals with extensive experience living in, working in, or advocating for forests. In the process, students are specifically asked to consider how these groups or individuals understand forest use, stewardship, and community benefits. Through these partners’ eyes, the project hopes to also make visible the diversity of ecosystem processes and spaces where diverse native flora and fauna coexist with their human neighbors. Case study examinations of community partners and their projects from around the U.S. requires students to document specific experiences and forms of interaction with forests. The resulting profiles featured here are intended to provide students further experience with the process of creating outreach materials that can support community engagement efforts associated with sustainable forest management.
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Urban Forest Change on the Ursinus College Campus: An Analysis of Tree Removals and Plantings During the Last Five Years (2017-2022)
Ellie Burns, Ethan Cuthbertson, Abigail Duimering, Danielle Monaco, Joey Nolan, Amy Smith, and Hanna Snyder
An urban forest is a community ecosystem consisting of a variety of trees and shrubs that benefit both people and wildlife residing in cities, suburbs, and exurbs (Nowak et al 2010). Proper maintenance of the urban forest, particularly in terms of maintaining sufficient canopy and leaf area, optimizes ecosystem services (Nowak et al. 2016), such as climate regulation, reduction of energy usage, improving air quality, and reduction of stormwater impacts as well as the potential to address food in security (Clark and Nicholas 2013) and provide important mental health benefits (Rajoo et al. 2020), including for students (Rajoo et al. 2018). The removal and addition of trees and shrubs throughout the city can alter the composition of the urban forest. Drivers of tree loss are often related to he health of trees, safety concerns about diseased trees, and the impact of these to community community members (Roman et al. 2022).
This project examines how urban forest composition on the Ursinus College campus has changed in the past five years.
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Forest Stories: Guided "Visits" to the Diverse Woodlands of North America (Overview)
Michael Alberto, Gerald Bardol, Victoria Bearden, Nate Berger, J. Cocci, Audrey Cook, Kristen Cooney, Addie Frey, Reese Goodlin, Tim Holzapfel, Cassidy Robinson, Pete Scuderi, and Moss Thieler
This Story Map introduces visitors to the Fall 2020 ENV-338 course context of the individual profiles, including key themes from readings, guest speakers, and more.
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A Day in the Life of a Conservation Specialist: An Oral History Discussion with Beth Myers of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
Michael Alberto, Gerald Bardol, Tim Holzapfel, and Moss Thieler
This Story Map, a project from the ENV-338 Forests and People course, contains an interview with Beth Myers of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Pennsylvania.
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The Significance of Forests in the "Heart of Western Oregon": An Oral History Interview with Sarah Altemus-Pope
Victoria Bearden, Nate Berger, and Cassidy Robinson
This Story Map, a project from the ENV-338 Forests and People course, contains an interview with Sarah Altemus-Pope, Executive Director of the Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative in Oakridge, Oregon.
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The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy: An Oral History Interview with Jessie Kemper
Audrey Cook, J. Cocci, and Reese Goodlin
This Story Map, a project from the ENV-338 Forests and People course, contains an interview with Jessica Kemper of the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Pennsylvania.
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A "Not-so Typical Forest Landowner" in Chickahominy Valley: Oral History Interview with Dave Eisler About his Experiences in the Shady Creek Forest of Western Oregon
Addie Frey, Pete Scuderi, and Kristen Cooney
This Story Map, a project from the ENV-338 Forests and People course, contains an interview with David Eisler about forest management practices on his property in Shady Creek Forest, Oregon.
