Ecology, Management, and Advocacy of Urban Forests

Urban forests provide ecological and socio-economic benefits ranging from improving air, water, and soil quality to creating wildlife habitat to enhancing thermal comfort and the health of individuals and whole communities to increasing property values and more. The course aims to expand understanding of urban forests as socio-ecological systems, with the goal of involving students in urban forest research and stewardship. We will explore the overlap of urban forest ecology and ecosystem services, management, advocacy, and education. Guest speakers from the USDA Forest Service and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will add to the learning experience. This course includes three required full-day Sunday fieldtrips to the Coastal Plain, Piedmont forests of Philadelphia, and to participate in a tree planting activity in Philadelphia. These trips will enhance appreciation of these important ecosystems. Students will research and present on an urban forest system from Philadelphia or elsewhere and a topic of interest related to course content.