Luís Ferreira’s Post

Urban Green Spaces, an aspect that urban planners and developers often overlook in their development plans. The benefits of urban forestry cannot be underscored,yet we continue "devouring" green spaces in cities for infrastructure unreservedly. We tend to think sustainability is strongly anchored on beautiful buildings and booming economy(an expensive misconception) forgetting that even these structures need a healthy environment. I'm happy my M.Sc. project focuses on scientific approaches of integrating urban forestry initiatives to cushion urban climate change, carbon sequestration, and pollution control for human health improvement, resilience and sustainability of urban areas.

Urban tree planting will increase in importance as our cities get hotter / more challenging to survive in during heatwaves. 🔥❄️ Urban cooling by street trees and other planting can be as significant as several degrees C° 🙂🚑 It could be the difference between surviving or not, for some sectors of the population. 🌳 Many other benefits too, as great reports like these illustrate 📝 There can be challenges in agreeing planting locations due to underground services, visibility around traffic, and maintenance concerns. Cities need to plan for this at strategic levels to ensure masterplanning allows tree planting at specifications that allows successful tree growth 🌳🌳🌳💚

I think there is a need to regreen the urban environment. Whether or not it is practical or beneficial is determined on a case by case basis. I am bias towards the perspective that we must look at options to make space for green spaces in our cities, and if anyone has a need for my services in consultation for city planning I am willing and able. To develop gardens in abandoned industrial areas, vacant parking lots, flood plains, old airports, disused Olympic venues and stadiums and urban decayed neighborhoods is all possible. Each case presents unique challenges and choices to be made, in terms of deconstruction, regreening, hydrology, zoning, soil conditioning, ecology, farming, city planning, traffic, future considerations, and other factors - the process is not as simple as 'well this looks like a nice place for a forest'. Reforestation of urban environments is a complex and long term endeavor, and should not be considered casually. The environmental benefits of greening the urban environment are tangible and long-term, it is my opinion that we should in fact start considering options sooner than later in the ongoing climate emergency. The climate change we are experiencing will continue for hundreds of years as the earth tries to reach equilibrium - green retreats in concrete jungles should be designed to last many generations and provide a sanctuary for humans and wildlife alike.

important to note... selection of the ideal species is critical...

Here's a short feature on the LiDAR project we're working on with the AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Coconino NF!

Last week, while out surveying deer exclosure plots for one of our clients I had a stark reminder of how heavy deer presence/impact can affect a woodland's ability to regenerate. In the photo, on the right (inside the exclosure plot), we can see an abundance of 1st year Beech saplings, while on the left and sadly through the majority of the woodland, almost no saplings where observed. In a changing climate, with increasing pressure from new diseases and shifting social considerations, I feel we should be implementing more Continuous Cover Forestry systems in our woodland. Therefore encouraging natural regeneration to play a vital role in created multi - layered woodlands. However, CCF can not coincide with rising deer populations, with management made difficult, especially in public access woodlands.

This record-setting wildfire season calls us to action. It's time to implement time-tested solutions — including responsible forestry methods that incorporate native species and ecosystem biodiversity to reduce wildfire risks. Learn how planting biodiverse forests can help break the wildfire cycle: https://refore.st/4cXzAYk

Proof indeed of the vital need for a deer management strategy

We're often asked why the certification of forests matter. Does certification provide a tangible benefit to the fauna, flora, and folk of the forests? In this new study by Joeri Zwerts and his team, we see the massive benefits to the animal populations, particularly the megafauna, living within the forests of FSC-certified tropical logging operations in Central Africa, as opposed to non-certified comparable forests. Do check it out, if you also care about Positive Impact Forestry! 📺: https://lnkd.in/dXKsFGBF 📰: https://lnkd.in/dvAMC3ry

Forests everywhere are facing similar threats and challenges. These four growing threats to Europe's Forests by World Resources Institute calls for urgent attention not just in Europe but globally. https://bit.ly/4clE0Is Much action is required to protect our forest ecosystem #forests #trees European Forest Institute European Climate Foundation European Commission European State Forest Association | EUSTAFOR European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF)