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Research ArticleArticles

Keeping Up the Urban Forest: Predictors of Tree Maintenance in Small Southern Towns in the United States

Bonnie L. Lewis and John G. Boulahanis
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) January 2008, 34 (1) 41-46; DOI: https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2008.006
Bonnie L. Lewis
Bonnie L. Lewis (corresponding author), Professor of Sociology, Florida Parishes Social Science Research Center, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, U.S.,
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
John G. Boulahanis
John G. Boulahanis, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Florida Parishes Social Science Research Center, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, U.S.,
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Article Figures & Data

Tables

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    Table 1.

    Comparison of towns in population (N = 1426) to sample (n = 504).

    Variable2000 census meanSample mean
    Population size  11,018  11,133
    Median household income$38,765$35,080
    Percent with at least a high school degree      77%      75%
    • View popup
    Table 2.

    State-by-state comparison of population to sample.

    2000 census number of towns between 5,000 and 25,000Towns with contact informationPercent coverage in sampling frameSurvey responseFinal percent response
    Alabama  88  7484.1  4256.8
    Arkansas  45  4088.9  2255.0
    Florida32110833.6  5349.1
    Georgia107  8074.8  4151.3
    Kentucky  75  6384.0  4063.5
    Louisiana  91  4953.8  2959.2
    Mississippi  57  4782.5  2451.1
    North Carolina100  8787.0  4855.2
    Oklahoma  54  5296.3  2446.2
    South Carolina  70  4361.4  3376.7
    Tennessee  79  6379.7  3555.6
    Texas24519077.6  9449.5
    Virginia  94  3537.2  1954.3
    Total142693165.350454.1
    • View popup
    Table 3.

    Factors related to successful tree maintenance.

    FactorComponents and descriptors
    Independent variables
        Structural/demographicEducation (percent high school degree or more)
    Income (median household income)
    Population size
        Availability of state resourcesMayor’s knowledge of state forestry agency
        Municipal organizational structureIndex, based on whether town has:
    • a tree ordinance;

    • specific department and person responsible for UCF; or

    • specific budget for UCF.

        Characteristics of mayorValue of trees to mayor (count of perceived benefits of trees the mayor cites)
    Importance of tree maintenance for mayor
    Years served as mayor
    Gender
        Challenges of maintenanceCosts of planting, maintenance, liability/insurance, storm cleanup, impeding progress, lack of consensus on assigning tree value
        Community social capitalExtent of public interest in planting and maintenance
    Dependent variable
        Basic tree maintenanceIndex based on whether town routinely performs pruning, mulching, removal/stump grinding, fertilizing, and planting
    • UCF = urban and community forestry.

    • View popup
    Table 4.

    Tree maintenance practices of communities.

    Tree maintenance activities routinely performedPercent
    Pruning79
    Mulching58
    Removal/stump grinding47
    Fertilizing43
    Major planting in last 5 years or in future61
    • View popup
    Table 5.

    Organizational structure of community urban and community forestry programs.

    Municipal organizational featuresPercent
    Department for tree maintenance81
    Person for tree maintenance59
    Budget for tree maintenance31
    Tree ordinance47
    • View popup
    Table 6.

    Regression analysis showing standardized coefficients among the six models.

    Models
    Variables123456
    Structural/demographic
        Education0.0990.0480.009−0.030−0.027−0.027
        Income0.0190.0510.0010.0360.0180.018
    State resources0.258w0.159x0.111y0.107y0.108y
    Municipal organization
    Mayor characteristics0.450w0.397w0.408w0.409w
        Valued by mayor0.084z0.0840.085
        Years served by mayor0.081z0.0780.078
        Gender of mayor−0.128x−0.139x−0.139x
        Importance of tree maintenance0.172w0.167w0.170x
    Challenges of maintenance
        Costs of planting0.0610.061
        Costs of maintenance−0.083−0.083
        Increased liability/insurance−0.052−0.052
        Cleanup after storms0.0100.011
        Impeding progress−0.015−0.015
        Consensus on tree value−0.015−0.016
    Social capital−0.008
        Intercept1.7301.5921.2201.0521.3281.361
        R20.0130.0790.2630.3200.3310.331
    • ↵zP < 0.10

    • ↵yP < 0.05

    • ↵xP < 0.01

    • ↵wP < 0.001.

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Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF): 34 (1)
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
Vol. 34, Issue 1
January 2008
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Keeping Up the Urban Forest: Predictors of Tree Maintenance in Small Southern Towns in the United States
Bonnie L. Lewis, John G. Boulahanis
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jan 2008, 34 (1) 41-46; DOI: 10.48044/jauf.2008.006

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Keeping Up the Urban Forest: Predictors of Tree Maintenance in Small Southern Towns in the United States
Bonnie L. Lewis, John G. Boulahanis
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jan 2008, 34 (1) 41-46; DOI: 10.48044/jauf.2008.006
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Keywords

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