Proposed Project Completion: October 2020. This project has now been completed.
Principal Investigator(s): Steven Frank, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, NC State University
Implements Science Plan Theme: Impacts

Key Points

• Provided research to help land managers understand the risks of urbanization on forest habitats and wildlife
• Promotes the increasing importance of urban forests in future conservation efforts
• Identified knowledge gaps and areas where new research is critical

Overview

Urbanization is happening fast in the Southeast U.S.. This is a primary threat to already imperiled species. As urban areas grow, they encroach on preserved areas, like national wildlife refuges. This divides forests into smaller fragments. Forests located next to cities and suburbs face many threats to their health. These include high temperatures, pollution, insect pests, and invasive plants. But despite their location, these “urban forests” are able to support diverse plant and animal life. These forests could play an important role in conservation as urbanization continues.

We don’t yet know the specifics of how urbanization affects forest quality. Higher temperatures and pollution impact plants and animals, but we don’t know the mechanics of  how they lead to impacts. This project synthesized current knowledge on how these factors affect urban forest habitat quality. We especially focused on the urban heat island effect, where urban areas are often several degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas. By doing this, we found knowledge gaps that impede forest management, and proposed future research to fill those gaps. 

This project identified knowledge gaps and areas where new research is critical. We cannot rely on a few large, pristine, and protected forests to fulfill the nation’s conservation goals. This project informs the role that urban forests can play.