The Housing-forest Interface: Structural Approaches to Protecting Urban Natural Areas Post Development

Studies have recorded evidence of human impacts within urban forest edges associated with adjacent land uses; however, little is known about residential encroachment activities, and the physical boundary treatments and municipal policies developed to protect urban forested natural areas from these activities. This study evaluates the effectiveness of structural boundary treatments, and municipal policies for protecting forests from encroachment activities. This book addresses professionals in planning, landscape architecture, forest and park management. It will help to answer the following questions: What residential encroachment activities occur within urban forests and how far from forest borders do they extend? What municipal planning policies are effective and ineffective in addressing these activities? How wide does a buffer need be to segregate these activities from sensitive forest edges? And, how can the planning, design and management of urban forests be improved to ensure their features and functions are protected for the long term?