Needs and barriers to expanding urban forestry programs: An assessment of community officials and program managers in the Portland - Vancouver metropolitan region

摘要

A regional urban forestry initiative, the Portland - Vancouver Metropolitan Regional Urban Forestry Strategy, was recently created in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington region of the United States. To inform the development of this initiative, a needs assessment survey was sent to community officials and program managers in the 30 cities and four counties in the Portland - Vancouver region. The survey sought to identify attitudes and practices in urban forestry, and determine program needs, barriers, and priorities. Despite both community officials and program managers expressing an avid interest in implementing and expanding tree programs, difficulty exists in growing programs due to issues such as inadequate funding and lack of political or public support. Increased community education and the creation or revision of urban forest management plans and tree related ordinances were some of the highest reported priorities for jurisdictions. Survey results will serve to increase the success of this initiative and contribute to professional knowledge and urban forestry activities occurring in the region and across the country. Recommendations for future outreach can also be utilized by urban forest managers and natural resource professionals to improve urban tree programs and services offered in the Portland - Vancouver region. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.