PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #49: Restoration Ecology. Presiding: J. Callaway.
Wednesday, August 8, 2001. 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Madison Ballroom D.
Application of an urban woodland restoration framework.
RAAB, SARA1, LANE, CYNTHIA2, CARR, CAROLYN3, CATHCART, DAVID3, 1 2 3
ABSTRACT- Converting urban landscapes to native cover types can help improve the ecological and cultural value of urban lands. In particular, re-vegetating with native woody species offers many benefits but methods are not well developed. Based on review and synthesis of the literature we developed a framework for implementing urban woodland restoration projects. We then utilized this framework to guide the implementation of a large-scale woodland restoration effort in metropolitan Saint Paul, Minnesota: the Great River Greening project. In this paper we present results on the planting design aspect of the framework. Four planting designs 1) dense initial, 2) sparse initial 3) final spacing, and 4) colonization patch, were tested at 14 sites. Over 2,500 trees and shrubs were installed during volunteer events between 1996 and 1998. The dense initial strategy was found to result in high survival rates (Ave. = 86%), and rapid canopy closure important for control of weeds, (most sites had 75% canopy cover by the third year), but was comparatively the most expensive. Accurate site assessment, particularly for soil compaction, drainage and pH, and snow removal sites, and species selection were the primary influences on plant survival.
KEY WORDS: urban, woodland, restoration