Urban forest management for multiple benefits: An analysis of tree establishment strategies used by community tree planting programs

Community tree planting programs work to improve local and regional communities by managing trees in constructed landscapes. Trees planted by these programs provide many benefits accrued within the local ecology and valued by city residents. Although adequate research exists describing the nature, extent, and valuation of the amenities provided by urban trees, management strategies used to sustain these benefits is an area requiring additional investigation. This research examined tree establishment strategies used by community tree planting programs, which includes the selection, acquisition, and installation of trees.;The study utilized a mixed-methods sequential methodology approach for data collection. Research included eleven key informant interviews with community tree planting program managers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. On-site visits were made to conduct semi-structured interviews, collect tree planting information, and observe tree establishment first-hand. In order to further investigate the nature of the tree establishment process from tree production to installation, a questionnaire was sent to professionals at community tree planting programs and nurseries.;Programs participating in this research collectively planted 26,383 trees, made possible through resident grant applications, volunteer coordination, internal effort, and cooperative planting strategies. Approximately 132 woody taxa were represented in this sum. Planting strategies were designed with specific management goals and objectives in mind to promote benefits and amenities provided by trees. The research data collected from community tree planting programs identified universal strategies advancing tree establishment, including a well-defined program mission, reliable financial support, community involvement, program standards and policies, and a clear tree planting workflow. Programs were also affected by their working relationships with nurseries, and questionnaire results revealed an inverse relationship between a program's tree planting success and three other variables, including the number of trees planted, number of nurseries utilized, and the number of methods used to acquire trees from nurseries.