The housing-forest interface: Testing structural approaches for protecting suburban natural systems following development

Evaluation of planning policy for protecting green infrastructure from loss and degradation due to residential encroachment

“…Although their areas and physical connectivity have increased through time (Dorney and Rich, 1976;Tyler, 2000), many are still small in area, physically disconnected with high edge to interior ratios. These characteristics leave them highly vulnerable to degradation resulting from residential encroachment (Murphy, 2006), and studies indicate that many forms of residential encroachment are prevalent within the green infrastructure systems of these municipalities (McWilliam et al, 2009(McWilliam et al, , 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011. Fig.…”

“…Negative impacts associated forest patches and corridors with directly abutting housing have been demonstrated within many countries (McWilliam et al, 2009(McWilliam et al, , 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011Matlack, 1993;Moran, 1984;Sharpe et al, 1986;Stenhouse, 2004;Bagnall, 1979). Impacts extend more than 50 m from forest borders (McWilliam et al, 2009) and cover 26-50% of the forest floor within the first 20 m (McWilliam et al, 2011).…”

“…Impacts extend more than 50 m from forest borders (McWilliam et al, 2009) and cover 26-50% of the forest floor within the first 20 m (McWilliam et al, 2011). Where forest fragments are small in area or narrow (e.g., less than 100 m wide), impacts can negatively affect the entire area of green infrastructure (McWilliam et al, 2009(McWilliam et al, , 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011.…”

“…Impacts extend more than 50 m from forest borders (McWilliam et al, 2009) and cover 26-50% of the forest floor within the first 20 m (McWilliam et al, 2011). Where forest fragments are small in area or narrow (e.g., less than 100 m wide), impacts can negatively affect the entire area of green infrastructure (McWilliam et al, 2009(McWilliam et al, , 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011. Activities causing impacts include waste disposal, the creation of unauthorized forest pathways, fire pits and tree forts; and the replacement of forest with yard structures such as lawns, patios and swimming pools (McWilliam et al, 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011.…”

“…Activities causing impacts include waste disposal, the creation of unauthorized forest pathways, fire pits and tree forts; and the replacement of forest with yard structures such as lawns, patios and swimming pools (McWilliam et al, 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011. Many of these activities remove and damage soils and vegetation (Florgard, 2000;Seidling, 1999); facilitate the spread of invasive exotic plants (McWilliam et al, 2009(McWilliam et al, , 2010(McWilliam et al, , 2011; disturb native wildlife (Sauvajot et al, 1998); and, degrade aesthetic and recreational experiences (Lynn and Brown, 2003). They may also reduce storage, and filtering capacity of soils and vegetation, particularly within riparian buffer zones (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1995).…”