• A symposium website was developed, which includes symposium conclusions, links to presentations, program agenda, presenters’ biosketches, participant list, and an article published June 11, 2008 in the Cornell Chronicle. Website: http://nyc.cce.cornell.edu/environment/silviculture-symposium.php
• Symposium research leader Tom Whitlow, Cornell Dept. of Horticulture, and symposium moderator Rich Pouyat, U.S. Forest Service, are spearheading development of a "white paper" to summarize the day’s findings and capture the discussion for future planning and goals.
Initial conclusions from the symposium include:
• Urban landscapes are complex, given multiple and interacting natural and built variables (such as parcelization, built structures, environmental changes, vestiges of native ecosystems, etc.).
• There are multiple benefits and costs of establishing and maintaining trees in urban landscapes, which are impacted by the health, longevity, and location of trees.
• There are many emission sources of particulate matter (PM), including transportation, industry, and power generation. Given cities' small geographic areas, diversity of pollutants, heat island effect, etc., the chances for secondary reactions are high.
• Epidemiological studies show correlations between atmospheric PM and public health. In many cases communities of color are disproportionately exposed.
• Spatiotemporal distribution of PM sources, deposition, and resuspension is complex. Heterogeneity is high at all scales, making it difficult to predict human exposure in time and space.
• Trees are relatively inefficient filters of fine PM. Given the high inputs of PM and the small area that could be devoted to canopy cover, quantifying the effect of vegetation on ambient PM concentration in cities is especially difficult.
• Policy considerations include tradeoffs and possible source control of emissions and/or changes in behavior. Symposium participants were not aware of colleagues' research in these interdisciplinary areas and expressed interest to continue the dialogue and explore collaborative areas for further study.
• Symposium attendees provided positive feedback to the event, including: “That was a very substantive presentation . . .” “I thought the conference was great, especially for networking . . . excellent job putting the meeting together.” “This was a well-run event, with some interesting conclusions. I’d be interested in learning of next steps and new directions based on research findings.” “I was very impressed by what I did see and hear and will be eager to see what next steps can be taken.”
• Efforts have been made to maintain communications with symposium participants, through follow-up email and sharing of website development. Project leaders will seek ways to maintain the momentum of interest among researchers and participants, and sharing of ideas through possible future in-person and online sessions.
impact statement issue
Since 2001, CUCE-NYC and Cornell’s Department of Horticulture have been implementing a research and Extension education project to investigate the impact of trees on particulate air pollution targeted to the South Bronx. The project reached more than 1,500 residents and youth through hands-on education and outreach focused on the relationship between trees, environmental quality, and human health. Based on research findings and interactions with other scholars, programs leaders identified a critical, emerging need to bring together researchers, educators, and practitioners for interdisciplinary dialogue on the intersection of urban forestry and public health encompassing forestry, epidemiology, air quality and policy.
impact statement response
On June 2, 2008, CUCE-NYC and Cornell’s Department of Horticulture convened 55 participants from the Mid-Atlantic region for a full-day symposium at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. The morning session began with 10 presentations covering a range of topics related to urban forestry and respiratory health: ecojustice, state of NYC’s trees, urban design needs, the regulatory perspective, ecosystem service valuation, particulate matter (PM) and asthma, regional and local patterns of PM, vegetation and PM, and policy to achieve goals. The afternoon session culminated with a group discussion with presenters and participants exchanging ideas and opportunities for future collaboration.
Among participants who attended were Commissioner Adrian Benepe of the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation, as well as senior staff from the NYC Mayor’s Office for Long Term Planning and Sustainability, NYC Dept. of Parks, and NYC Dept. of Health. Researchers and practitioners represented institutions such as Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and Earth Institute, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Montefiore Medical Center; nonprofit organizations such as Environmental Defense Fund, Regional Plan Association, For a Better Bronx, and Natural Resources Defense Council; and government agencies including the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Research Station, USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, and NYSERDA.
impact statement summary
Cornell University Cooperative Extension-New York City (CUCE-NYC), with Cornell’s Department of Horticulture, planned and convened a full-day symposium on the intersection of urban forestry and respiratory health involving scientists, educators, policy makers, community leaders, and management practitioners representing multiple departments at Cornell, other academic institutions, government, and nonprofit organizations. Held at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, the symposium presented current research, and participants exchanged ideas and discussed unmet needs and opportunities for collaboration.
