FWBG
Many visitors to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden may not realize the significance of its South Woods urban forest, but it plays an important role in our city’s well-being. According to a recent initiative between the FWBG and TCU, this space is crucial in enhancing environmental, economic, and social well-being for the surrounding community.
This study, which was supervised by assistant professor Brendan L. Lavy and several TCU students, employed a comprehensive approach to find and assess the benefits of this section of the FWBG. Using field measurements, satellite imagery analysis, and ecosystem service models, this group was able to quantify the forest's impact on the local environment, according to a release.
Some of the highlights from this study concluded that trees provide numerous benefits to the surrounding urban area, such as improving air quality, regulating climate, supporting biodiversity, managing water, and providing social and psychological well-being.
In the early days, botanical gardens were basically open public spaces where plants were grown, labeled, and cataloged. Originally constructed to be large green houses for the preservation and study of plant life, these spaces were primarily frequented by serious and amateur botanists. Today as cities like Fort Worth and other urban areas continue to expand, the role of botanical gardens are becoming places where city dwellers go to get in touch with nature and escape the asphalt jungle so close by.
“Urban forests contribute significantly to human well-being and environmental health, and it is important to ensure that their benefits accrue to current and future generations,” Dr. Lavy says. “Through this unique collaboration, students had the opportunity to add to our understanding of the values and benefits of trees while learning proper field methods and how to report their results.”
Besides aesthetics and mental health benefits, the South Woods translate into quantifiable economic benefits, including:
- Carbon Storage: Estimated 490 tons of carbon stored, equivalent to taking 106 cars off the road per year.
- Carbon Sequestration (capture and conversion of carbon): Estimated 13.42 tons of carbon sequestered annually, comparable to the weight of over 13 male bison.
- Runoff Avoided: Estimated 176,002.87 gallons of runoff avoided annually, equivalent to filling 563,209 Stanley Cups.
- Pollution Removal: Estimated 11,977.47 oz of pollutants are removed annually, comparable to the weight of a large grizzly bear.
- Oxygen Production: Estimated 35.78 tons of oxygen produced annually, equivalent to the weight of 4.5 T-Rex dinosaurs.
- Replacement Value of South Woods: An estimated replacement value of $3.42 million, equivalent to the cost of an island for sale off the coast of Scotland.
“This collaboration was an opportunity for us to combine our strengths to promote innovation and efficiency and accomplish the mutually beneficial goal of assessing the ecological value of our urban forest," says Seth Hamby, director of living collections at FWBG. "We believe strongly that hands-on time spent in nature is essential for all people to help build a lifelong passion for conservation. I look forward to many more projects like this in the future!"
Future Initiatives
Based on the findings of the research, the FWBG plans to implement several initiatives aimed at preserving and enhancing the South Woods urban forest, including:
- Tree Planting Programs: Expanding tree planting efforts to increase canopy cover and maximize the benefits of urban forests.
- Educational Outreach: Developing educational programs and workshops to raise awareness about the importance of plants and urban forests and engage the local community in conservation efforts.
- Collaborative Research Projects: Continuing to partner with institutions like TCU to conduct further research on urban forest benefits and develop innovative solutions for urban sustainability.
- Conservation: Continuing our work through The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the research and conservation arm of FWBG, focusing on plant conservation and research centered around biodiversity, evolution, and conservation, all with the goal of increasing our understanding and appreciation of the plant world.
- Treatment of Ash Trees: To combat the emerald ash borer, selected ash trees are being treated with an insecticide. This treatment acts as a barrier to the beetles, preventing further burrowing. Thanks to Bartlett Tree Experts, a leading provider of scientific tree care, for offering the generous donation of services to FWBG they will be able to save 24 selected ash trees threatened by the invasive emerald ash borer.
TCU students themselves reaped the benefit of this hands-on real-world experience, working and doing research in the thick of it all.
"This class offered a unique opportunity to learn about the services provided by trees within our local area,” says TCU environmental science student Reese Reeder. “I really enjoyed engaging in a hands-on project that not only provided us with important information but also benefited the community and demonstrated the importance of spaces such as the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in urban environments."
For more detailed information on the study, future initiatives, or ways to get involved in conservation through FWBG click here.
