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Urban Forest Web Quest

Introduction

Urban forests are important. They can make us feel better, cool our homes, clean our air, clean our water, and save us money. Urban forests face many challenges that could prevent them from doing those things. Some challenges are caused by disease, insects, or weather. Others are caused by people. Some challenges are a combination of both.  

When we lose our urban forests, we lose air quality, water quality, standard of living, and community health. It sounds like a problem that is too big for you to do anything about, but it’s not! This activity will help you learn how you can do something to help urban forests. The first step in making our urban forests healthier is to learn about the issues that challenge them. Then you need to find out who else could join your cause. Once you know those things, you can plan how to take action to make urban forests even better.

Tasks

Task 1:

Your group has been assigned to research an issue and create a written action plan to address the issue. The intent of this task is for you to gain a general understanding of the issue. The following headings should be included in your written action plan with appropriate information under them. Include pictures and other graphics as appropriate. 

Task 2:

When the written plan is complete, your group will present information about the issue and your action plan to the class. For the presentation, be prepared to:

Process

Step 1:
Research the issue. Click on your assigned urban forest issue below.
Invasive Species

An invasive species is one that out-competes the native species in an area. Invasive species can be plants, animals, insects, or diseases; invasive species can be aquatic or terrestrial. You will be investigating how invasive species impact forests, urban forests specifically. There are many different invasive species impacting forests. Do not focus on a specific invasive species, but instead provide an overview of invasive species in general. (Another group will be investigating Emerald Ash Borer)

Use the links below to research information about invasive species. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Invasive species
  • Invasive species + urban forest
Tree Canopy Loss

The tree canopy is the area covered by the leaves and branches of trees. The word “canopy” can be used in terms of an individual tree or to describe the collective branches and leaves in an entire forest. Since the tree canopy has many benefits, loss of the canopy has many drawbacks.

Use the links below to research information about tree canopy loss. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Tree canopy
  • Tree canopy + urban forest
Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald ash borer is an invasive insect species. This insect feeds on all species of ash trees. Since ash trees are common in Wisconsin’s urban forest, the potential impact of this invasive species is great. 

Use the links below to research information about emerald ash borer and about organizations that may have an interest in the issue. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Emerald ash borer
  • Emerald ash borer + urban forest
Trees and Utilities

The companies that supply electricity to homes and businesses must maintain overhead power lines. Trees can grow into these lines and cause conflict.

Use the links below to research information about trees and utilities. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Trees + utilities
Soil Compaction

Trees and other plants need soil to grow. Soil must have air spaces in it to let water percolate
through and must allow air to get to roots in order for the soil to support plant life. Soil that has been compacted has lost those air spaces. Soil Compaction Diagram

Use the links below to research information about soil compaction. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Soil compaction + trees
Heat Island

Concrete, asphalt, and other surfaces in urban areas absorb heat from the sun and re-radiate it. This creates what is known as a “heat island.” Urban areas tend to be 5-9 degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas because of this phenomenon.

Use the links below to research information about heat island. As you conduct your research, evaluate the source of the information. What bias might it have? Is it primary research or does it restate someone else’s research?

Issue Information:

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Heat island
  • Heat island + trees

Step 2:
What’s being done? Research what different groups are doing to address your issue.
Invasive Species

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Invasive species
  • Invasive species + urban forest
Tree Canopy Loss

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Tree canopy
  • Tree canopy + urban forest
Emerald Ash Borer

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Emerald ash borer
  • Emerald ash borer + organizations
Trees and Utilities

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Trees + utilities
Soil Compaction

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Soil compaction + trees
Heat Island

Organizations

Ways to Locate Local Organizations
Use a phone book, city website, newspaper, knowledgeable people, or other sources to investigate your local community.

  • Do you have any of the following? They may be involved in addressing your issue.
    • Urban forestry department/Urban forester
    • Tree Board
    • Parks Department
    • Street Department

Potential Searches
Type the following into a search engine to explore other possible sources of information about your issue.

  • Heat island
  • Heat island + trees
STEP 3:

As a group, use the information you learned from your research to write an action plan as described in task 1. You may want to look at the grading rubric example to the right before you start.

Resources:

  • Trees Pay Us Back is a two volume set of information about the benefits of trees.
  • NeighborWoods Guidebook
    This is an electronic version of the Sacramento California Tree Foundation’s “NeighborWoods Guidebook – Recipes for Community Action”
BeginningDevelopingAccomplishedExemplary
Issue Description & ImportanceDoes not describe the issue. Does not explain the importance of the issue.Briefly describes issue and its importance.Describes issue and explains the importance of the issue.Thoroughly describes the issue. Thoroughly describes the importance of the issue.
Current Action & OrganizationsDoes not list current action being taken or organizations taking action.Lists current actions being taken and organizations, but does not elaborate.Lists and describes current actions being taken and organizations taking action.Thoroughly describes current action and organizations taking action at a variety of levels.
Action ProposalDoes not list action.Lists action but does not explain it or its importance.Explains action proposal and outlines steps to achieve it. Explains the importance of the action.Clearly explains action proposal and details steps to achieve it. Thoroughly explains importance of the action.
STEP 4:

Once your action plan is complete, create a presentation to “sell” the plan to your class. Your presentation should show creativity and explain why you think your plan should be pursued. You may want to look at the grading rubric example to the right.

BeginningDevelopingAccomplishedExemplary
Summarize IssueDoes not summarize the issue.Briefly summarizes the issue.Thoroughly summarizes the issue.Thoroughly summarizes the issue and describes the importance of the issue.
Summarize Action PlanDoes not summarize their action plan.Briefly summarizes their action plan.Thoroughly summarizes their action plan and outlines steps to achieve it.Thoroughly summarizes their action plan and includes specific details about steps to achieve it.
“Sell” PlanDoes not sell their plan.Promotes their plan, but does not motivate others to want to support it.Sells their plan and creates interest in others to support it.Sells their plan and motivates others to take action.
Answer Questions & Defend PlanDoes not respond to questions asked and cannot defend their plan.Answers questions briefly and minimally defends their plan.Answers questions completely and defends their plan.Answers question thoroughly, offering additional related information and successfully defends their plan.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve come up with some great plans, put them into action!
You can make a difference. So, what’s your first step?