Dr. Nicole Cavender, The Morton Arboretum

1. Botanical Gardens and Arboreta as Partners for
Urban and Community Forestry
Dr. Nicole Cavender, Vice President of Science and Conservation
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois USA
Partners In Community Forestry Conference
@ndcavender

2. By 2050, 66% of the world’s population is projected to be urban (UN 2014)
Urban Centers are Getting Bigger:
Growth Rates of Urban Centers by Size Class 2014-2030

3. Urban Forests Provide Vital Benefits to
People and the Environment
(Turner-Skoff and Cavender, 2019)

4. (Turner-Skoff and Cavender, 2019)

5. Gardens Have an Important Role in
Promoting Urban Greening
1) botanical and horticultural
knowledge
2) public education, outreach
and training
The two main strengths of
professional gardens:

6. Gardens Are A Partner for Urban Greening

7. • Located outside of Chicago, Illinois
• Annual budget of $41 million
• Over 1.3 million visitors a year
• 53,000 membership households
• Robust science and conservation program
The Morton Arboretum Overview

8. Science and Conservation
Center for Tree
Science (CTS)
Global Trees
Conservation
Program (GTCP)
ArbNet
Chicago Region
Trees Initiative
(CRTI)
Science
Communication
(Treeology)
• The region’s tree population is understood & valued.
• Collaborative management opportunities are ID’d & enacted.
• Measurable improvements toward the health & vigor of the region’s trees are
identified and established.
• Public awareness and support is developed to maintain our urban forest &
enhance its health for the future.
The Morton Arboretum Overview

9. (Cavender and Donnelly, 2019)
Key Challenges for The Future of Urban Forestry
1. Protecting large trees
2. Improving diversity and age
structure
3. Improving capacity and
collaboration
4. Improving standards, planning, and
management through science

10. <
Challenge 1: Large Trees Must Be Protected
Chicago, USA
• 50% survival in the first 5
years.
• Half-life of 10 to 15 years.
(as cited in Watson and Hemlick, 2013)
0.2 miles distance

11. • Promotion of ordinances
• Risk assessment and
management of trees
• Witness Tree Project
The Morton Arboretum and CRTI Protects Large Trees

12. Challenge 2: Diversity and Age Structure
Must Be Improved
Greater Lyon, France
Emerald Ash Borer
Dan Herms Ohio State University

13. • Engaging with the consumer
and providing resources
• Breeding new trees through
Chicagoland Grows®
• Coordinating with local
nurseries
Working to Improve Species
Diversity

14. Challenge 3: We Must Achieve
Broad Community Coordination

15. • Ego suppression
• Openness
• Trust
• Communication
• Humility
• Willingness to work
• Willingness to give up control
Anna Ball, President and CEO of Ball Horticultural Company
Collaboration Requires Unique Skills

16. •http://arbnet.org/
ArbNet
+338 Accredited Arboreta in 27 countries
Broad Community Coordination
and Collaboration

17. • Recognition for achievement and earn
distinction
• Raise professional standards
• Find collaborators and support
• Be a leader
• Funding opportunities and resources
• Support for non-traditional arboreta
AND IT IS
FREE!
Benefits to Becoming ArbNet
Accredited

18. ArbNet Accreditation Impact
We hope to steward this precious and historic resource,
our urban forest, for decades to come.
- Bill Reininger from Tower Grove Park
The Arboretum is a great way for the community to get
involved with the Atlanta BeltLine project and reconnect
to Atlanta's trees and urban ecosystem.
- Greg Levine from Trees Atlanta

19. Challenge 4: Improve Standards,
Planning and Management Through Science
• Recognize threats to trees
• Plan for threats
(Cavender and Donnelly, 2019)

20. http://chicagorti.org
Tree Inventories and Analytics
Science-informed Tree Care
Practices Are Essential

21. Train others and develop
networks
Improving Management Requires
Collaboration and Social Ties

22. - Regional Tree Selection
- Climate Change Adaptability
- Breeding and Selection
- Data Inventories & Analyses
- Urban Forestry and
Arboriculture Consulting
- Research on Urban Forestry
- Green Industry Training
- Distribution of Regionally
Appropriate Trees
- Public and Community
Programming
- Broad Community Coordination
and Collaboration
Intersections of Professional Gardens
with Urban Forestry
1) Botanical & horticultural knowledge 2) Public education, outreach & training

23. Working Together on Behalf of
Trees Makes Our Cities Better

24. 1. Connect with a local botanical
garden
2. Use the ArbNet network
3. Continue to learn and employ best
practices and collaborate to
improve the urban forest
Call to Action!

25. • Center for Tree Science
– Chuck Cannon, PhD
• Global Tree Conservation Program
– Murphy Westwood, PhD
• ArbNet
– Sue Paist
• Chicago Region Trees Initiative
– Lydia Scott, MS
• Science Communication
– Jessica Turner-Skoff, PhD
Acknowledgements

26. Additional Resources:
ArbNet
http://www.arbnet.org
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
http://chicagorti.org/
@ndcavender
ncavender@mortonarb.org

27. Cavender, N, Donnelly, G. Intersecting urban forestry and botanical
gardens to address big challenges for healthier trees, people, and cities.
Plants, People, Planet. 2019; 00: 1– 8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.38
Turner‐Skoff JB, Cavender N. The benefits of trees for livable and
sustainable communities. Plants, People, Planet. 2019; 00:1–13.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.39
The Role of Botanic Gardens in Urban Greening and Conserving Urban
Biodiversity. BGCI Technical Review. https://bit.ly/2Zssut9
Additional Resources:
@ndcavender
ncavender@mortonarb.org