AUTHOR=Piana Max R. , Hallett Richard A. , Johnson Michelle L. , Sonti Nancy F. , Brandt Leslie A. , Aronson Myla F. J. , Ashton Mark , Blaustein Max , Bloniarz David , Bowers Ashley A. , Carr Megan E. , D’Amico Vince , Dewald Laura , Dionne Heather , Doroski Danica A. , Fahey Robert T. , Forgione Helen , Forrest Todd , Hale Jack , Hansen Eric , Hayden Lisa , Hines Sarah , Hoch Jessica M. , Ieataka Taro , Lerman Susannah B. , Murphy Charles , Nagele Eliot , Nislow Keith , Parker Dhan , Pregitzer Clara C. , Rhodes Luke , Schuler Jessica , Sherman Alexander , Trammell Tara , Wienke Brittany M. , Witmer Thomas , Worthley Thomas , Yesilonis Ian TITLE=Climate Adaptive Silviculture for the City: Practitioners and Researchers Co-create a Framework for Studying Urban Oak-Dominated Mixed Hardwood Forests JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.750495 DOI=10.3389/fevo.2021.750495 ISSN=2296-701X ABSTRACT=

Urban forested natural areas are an important component of the forest and tree canopy in northeastern United States urban areas. Although similar to native forests in surrounding regions in structure, composition, and function, these natural areas are threatened by multiple, co-occurring biological and climate stressors that are exacerbated by the urban environment. Furthermore, forests in cities often lack application of formal silvicultural approaches reliant upon evidence-based applied ecological sciences. These include both urban- and climate-adapted silvicultural techniques to increase the resilience and sustainability of native forests in cities. With this in mind, we convened a group of urban forest practitioners and researchers from along a latitudinal gradient in the northeastern United States to participate in a workshop focused on co-developing long-term, replicated ecological studies that will underlie the basis for potential silvicultural applications to urban forests. In this article we review the process and outcomes of the workshop, including an assessment of forest vulnerability, and adaptive capacity across the region, as well as shared management goals and objectives. We discuss the social and ecological challenges of managing urban oak-dominated mixed hardwood forests relative to non-urban forests and identify potential examples of urban- and climate-adapted silviculture strategies created by practitioners and researchers. In doing so, we highlight the challenges and need for basic and long-term applied ecological research relevant to silvicultural applications in cities.