Connecticut has seen a tremendous increase in reforestation over the past century, with noticeable overgrowth and lack of management. The shrinking average parcel size of forested land in Connecticut calls for scale-appropriate management, but this is difficult with a high number of stakeholders. Even with increased roadside vegetation management and activities involving small-acreage treatments for […]
A Media Perspective on Storm-Related Power Outages
People love their roadside and yard trees, but they also care about a reliable power supply. As a human dimensions researcher on the Stormwise project, I am interested in how people make decisions about their trees in the face of these competing values. One of the first steps in gaining this understanding is to evaluate […]
Assessing tree hazards through remote sensing
Jason Parent and Dr. John Volin Stormwise will take many years to put into practice and will require a great deal of effort spent on educating and obtaining the cooperation of community officials and land owners. To get the most benefit in the short-term, Stormwise will focus on areas where the forest presents the greatest […]
Value Recovery from Stormwise Roadside Tree Management
During last summer’s Emerald Ash Borer Survey I drove along River Road in Killingworth somewhat amused by signage. A tree crew contracted to the power company had recently performed some right-of-way maintenance that included tree trimming and removals. The amusing signage indicated possession (or not) of the wood material left behind. “Don’t touch this wood!”, […]
Stormwise: Connecticut Collaborates to Cultivate Storm-resistant Trees
Authors: Jenna Klinck and Amanda Bunce, with Dr. Mark Rudnicki At the top of a 40 ft. ladder, harnessed safely to a gently swaying hickory tree, UConn graduate student Jenna Klinck secures a tilt sensor that will record the movements of this tree for years to come. She is a researcher on a project in […]
Questions & Answers about Stormwise
Along Chaffeeville Rd. in Mansfield is a site approximately 1.5 acres in size (a 600 ft. by 100 ft. strip) that is part of the “Stormwise” research and outreach initiative related to trees, forest conditions and storm resistance. The work is being supported in part by Eversource Energy. The site is one of eleven sites around […]