Urban and Developed
Systems Ecology and Management
This page contains numerous curriculum resources that may be used flexibly by Virginia Master Naturalist chapters and trainees to meet their learning needs. These resources also are available to other volunteer programs and the public for their use, but please note that watching or reading these materials cannot substitute for enrolling in and completing a basic training course with a VMN chapter in order to become a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer.
Thank you to the numerous people who contributed to the creation of these materials, including Alycia Crall (VT/VCE), Susan Day (VT), Adam Downing (VCE), Carol Heiser (VDGIF), Jim McGlone (VDOF), Ellen Powell (VDOF), Lou Verner (VDGIF-retired), Jonah Fogel (VT), and Eric Wiseman (VT), as well as many volunteers and online sources who provided images. Michelle Prysby, VMN Special Projects Coordinator, served as the lead author and project coordinator. Funding for the development of the Urban and Developed Systems curriculum was provided by the Virginia Department of Forestry through their Urban and Community Forestry grants program.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Virginia Master Naturalist basic training course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the definition of urbanization in a broad sense (i.e., the conversion of rural and undeveloped lands into built, developed environments.)
- Understand that Virginia is becoming increasingly urbanized and that natural resource issues associated with land use changes are important in all counties and communities.
- Identify specific ways that land use changes associated with increases in the built environment typically affect soils, hydrology, water quality, flora, fauna, habitat fragmentation, and climate.
- Identify specific practices that can mitigate the effects of these land use changes to improve ecosystem function in developed areas, with a focus on activities that are within the sphere of influence of a VMN volunteer or individual property owner.
- Identify resources and programs of state agencies and local organizations that can provide education and assistance with these practices.
- Describe the benefits that habitats in urban and developed areas, such as urban forests, provide in terms of ecosystem services.
- Describe the impacts of invasive species and locate information about how to manage them.
- Describe the benefits of choosing native plants for landscaping when sustainable and appropriate, and be able to use local native plant listings to find species recommendations for landscaping projects.
- Find the community’s Comprehensive Plan and be aware of the natural resource and environment components in the plan.
- Identify opportunities to participate in local decision making that influence natural systems (such as local planning commissions, zoning, etc.)
- Assist with non-formal education relating to this topic (e.g., talking to the public at a booth.)
- Assist with stewardship relating to this topic (e.g., habitat rehabilitation and restoration projects.)
Introductory Videos
What: Short videos to introduce volunteers to the topic of Urban and Developed Systems and to some of the state agency personnel and other individuals working in this arena.
Possible uses:
- Have trainees watch before class as preparation
- Watch as part of class
- Have trainees watch after class as review or supplementary material
- Have existing members watch as a refresher on this topic
Impacts of Urbanization on Wildlife Habitat: A Conversation with Carol Heiser, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
This video is an interview with Carol Heiser, Education Manager and Habitat Education Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. She describes some of the impacts of development on wildlife habitat and offers ideas for how property owners can improve habitat on their land. Carol is a member of the VMN Steering Committee. We interviewed her at the Virginia Master Naturalist program office and nearby local parks in Charlottesville, Virginia in May 2015. You can also watch it at video.vt.edu.
Watch on WebsiteThe Importance of Urban Forests: A Conversation with Jim McGlone, Virginia Department of Forestry
This video is an interview with Jim McGlone, Urban Conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry, during which he describes the importance of urban forests to the environment and to humans. Jim is a chapter advisor for the Fairfax Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program and a member of the VMN Steering Committee. We interviewed him in his office in Fairfax, Virginia in May 2015. You can also watch it at video.vt.edu.
Watch on WebsiteBackground Readings
Most Recommended Readings
- Urban Forestry Manual (Urban Forestry South), pages 1- 13
- Habitat Gardening for Wildlife (VDWR, C. Heiser)
- Decreasing Runoff and Increasing Stormwater Infiltration (VCE, J. Freeborn)
- Habitat at Home (VDWR, C. Heiser)
Supplemental Readings
- Sustaining America’s Urban Trees and Forests (Nowak, D. J. , et al.),
- Restoring the Urban Forest Ecosystem (Mary L. Durea), – Chapter 1
- The Eight Essential Elements of Conservation Landscaping (Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council)
- Backyard Wildlife Habitats (VCE, G. Eaton, B. Wright, and D. Close)
- A Training Manual for Virginia Tree Stewards (Trees Virginia, Virginia Urban Forest Council) – especially Unit 10 – Trees & People in the Community
How-To Guides
- Green Side Up: A Guide for Leading and Promoting Volunteer Tree Plantings (PDF)
- Fact Sheet: What about Landscaping and Energy Efficiency? (VCE, Wiseman, P. E., et al.),
- Trees for Energy Conservation Videos (eXtension.org)
- A Virginian’s Year-Round Guide to Yard Care (VDCR)
- How To Build a Rain Barrel for Your Home (James River Association),
- Rain Gardens: A landscape tool to improve water quality – Technical Guide (VDOF)
- Better Backyard: A Citizens’ Resource Guide to Beneficial Landscaping and Habitat Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Chesapeake Bay Program)
- Stormwater Management on Residential Lots: Assessing the Risk of Surface and Ground Water Contamination (University of Nebraska)
- Brush Piles for Wildlife (VDOF)
- Native Plant Guides for Landscaping · Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping (VDCR)
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping (US Fish & Wildlife Service),
- Regional Native Plant Guides, where you can find specific guides for the following locations:
- Eastern Shore
- Northern Neck
- Northern Virginia
- Hampton Roads
- Central Rappahannock
- Richmond
- Northern Piedmont
- Southern Piedmont
- Southwest Virginia
Online Tools and Software
- National Tree Benefit Calculator. Calculate the environmental benefit of a specific tree.
- i-Tree – http://www.itreetools.org – Includes different tools for mapping tree canopies, selecting the best tree species for various ecosystem services goals, planning planting locations to maximize energy savings benefits, and more.
Above and Beyond, for those seeking more in-depth information
Note that book publisher websites are provided, but often these books are available from other sources at varying prices.
- Urban Forestry at Virginia Tech
- Urban Soil Primer (Natural Resources Conservation Service),
- Urban and Community Forestry: A Practical Guide to Sustainability (Arbor Day Foundation),
- Urban Forestry Manual (Urban Forestry South),
- The Woods in Your Backyard (by Extension natural resource professionals in VA, MD, and PA)
- Tree Board University – online course series for volunteers serving on tree advisory bodies or highly engaged in urban forestry,
- A Guide: Developing a Street and Park Tree Management Plan (Northeast Center for Urban & Community Forestry
- Urban Natural Resources Institute site – various webcasts and videos
- Virginia Street Tree Assessment Project
- Urban Nutrient Management Handbook (VCE)
- Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants (2009) and other books by D. W. Tallamy.
Presentation Videos
What: A three-part set of online videos of PowerPoint presentations with narration. Combined, they are approximately 30 minutes long.
Possible uses:
- Have trainees watch before class as preparation
- Watch as part of class, combined with hands-on activities
- Have trainees watch after class as review
- Share with instructor to give him/her an idea of the type of material to cover
- Have trainees watch as a make-up for a missed class on the same topic
- Have existing members watch as a refresher on this topic
User Notes: Please note that you can make the video full-screen and toggle the closed captioning on and off. Please also note that these videos are intended to be used in conjunction with the handout provided below. You can also watch these videos at video.vt.edu: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Note for Basic Training Chairs and Course Instructors: Basic training chairs for VMN chapters may contact the state office for access to the full Powerpoint file and script. Both the Powerpoint and the script may be used and adapted for your courses. Please pay attention to the image license restrictions listed in the notes section for each slide in the Powerpoint file.
Presentation Handout
What: A four-page handout that matches up with the presentation. It is best printed in color, but black and white is acceptable.
Possible uses: The handout is meant to accompany the PowerPoint presentation or the videos, so if an instructor is using the presentation in class, he/she should distribute the handout in lieu of a handout containing all the slides. It is not recommended that you print the slides for a handout, as they are almost entirely image-based and would not make good reference material.
Note: We have provided the handout in both PDF and MS Word formats. You may adapt the MS Word version to fit your chapter by, for example, adding additional, relevant volunteer projects to the list provided.
Activity Lesson Plans
What: Lesson plans for two interactive activities, called “Developed Systems Scenarios” and “Investigating Online Tools for Urban Forestry.”
Possible uses: There are two activities provided that can be used during class time to encourage trainees to apply the material they have learned and to break up lecture time with an interactive exercise. The lesson plans are written so that they may be led by a non-expert, including VMN volunteers.