Mature and Historic Tree Stands (MHTS) Toolkit

Resources Provided Through MHTS Toolkit

This toolkit synthesizes the current state of knowledge regarding the preservation and management of mature and historic trees - both in urban settings, and trees located at the urban-wildlife interface (WUI). The resources provided illustrate examples and guidelines aimed to help determine appropriate treatments for mature, aging, or senescent trees, considering both their ecological and historic values.

Given the existing interest manifested for better understanding and management of historic trees not only as essential components of urban forestry, but also as important elements of cultural landscapes, this website is intended to create a toolkit, a one-stop-shop resource. A resource that describes not only the ecological and silvicultural aspects of mature and historic tree stands, and discusses potential monitoring and management techniques, but also provides resources for assessing risk and strengthening communication between natural resource managers, public officials, and members of the public by providing a common language to discuss the issues tied to historic and mature trees.

Several case studies are presented with the purpose of not only discussing the ecological characteristics of different areas, but also to showcase the challenges and solutions of dealing with historic natural resources. Some of these challenges include disagreement among stakeholder groups (landowners, tree managers, environmental consulting agencies, city and regional planners, community members, and environmental activists, among others). The lessons learned from these approaches can serve as guidance for future endeavors in which multiple groups come together for a common cause, and successfully collaborate to design strategies and action plans to protect the ecosystem, as well as the cultural heritage of their place.

The case studies further discussed provide a comprehensive overview of relevant examples pertaining to the management of urban forest resources, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Examples such as the Mount Sutro Vegetation Management Plan, and the Presidio Forest Vegetation Management Plan showcase different management strategies and approaches, providing valuable recommendations on management of historic stands. We briefly synthesize the main management approaches presented in vegetation management plans (VMP) for these two examples. The VMP are designed with the goal of providing a framework for protecting, enhancing, restoring, and rehabilitating the native and introduced vegetation.

Examples from both the urban setting and the wildland urban interface (WUI) setting will be discussed and analyzed. It is important to differentiate these two perspectives, since the nature and magnitude of different hazards varies in each situation, and the management priorities are different in each case. In the first case, issues pertaining to liability and access, public safety, and community engagement are relevant, while in the second case, proper fuels management and issues related to minimizing fire hazard at the WUI become a top priority.

This toolkit will not be focusing on eucalyptus plantation actively managed for fiber or timbers, historic tree stands that are part of a timber management area, or on mature historic tree stands that are entirely removed from human settlements such as natural forests natural parks, designated wilderness.