In urban environments, trees provide a range of services including pollution removal, temperature regulation, and increased property values. In an effort to accrue these services, municipalities enact tree preservation ordinances that seek to protect public and private trees. Despite the protections of these ordinances, many trees are removed legally each year due to urban (re)development, risks associated with tree growth, and tree death. This research examines the spatiotemporal trends of permitted tree removals in the City of Austin, Texas, from 2013 to 2023. Specifically, we created a geographic information system to explore the differences between development-related and non-development-related removals, as well as between healthy and unhealthy removals. We also explored the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics explained differences in tree removals. Preliminary findings reveal that most trees removed are healthy and for development-related reasons, a reflection of Austin’s accelerating urban growth. We identified areas with high to moderate development pressure, high health impacts, and low activity. Our analysis also revealed significant patterns in tree removals associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Areas with higher proportions of non-White populations experience fewer tree removals. This, however, correlates with lower overall canopy cover, suggesting these areas have fewer trees to begin with. Conversely, neighborhoods with higher household incomes show more tree removals but also higher canopy cover, indicating more active tree management in wealthier areas with greater tree resources. Our research highlights location-specific tree removal patterns to inform strategies that account for both environmental and socioeconomic factors.

Microclimates, which refer to the localized atmospheric conditions within small-scale environments, can be influenced by a variety of factors such as vegetation, topography, and human activity. One of the key elements that affect microclimates is the type of canopy cover present in an area. Open areas, where there is little vegetation and more exposure to the elements, often experience different conditions compared to areas with dense canopy cover, where the vegetation provides more shelter and shade. Understanding the differences in microclimatic conditions between these two types of environments helps us understand how these environmental conditions affect people, plants, and animals. The purpose of this study is to explore how microclimates vary between open areas and areas with closed canopy cover, focusing on factors such as temperature, humidity, and NDVI to better understand how canopy cover influences environmental conditions.

Urbanization alters habitat structure and resource availability, influencing wildlife distribution and behavior. In particular, invertebrates are affected by the differences in urban landscape that are caused by distinct socio-economic differences throughout urban areas. These changes in invertebrate abundance and diversity may affect bat populations that rely on these invertebrates as a food source. This study investigates how neighborhood income influences invertebrate diversity and bat foraging activity in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. We hypothesize that variations in landscape management and the income-driven use of pesticides can alter invertebrate diversity and subsequently bat activity. We conducted invertebrate sampling and acoustic bat monitoring across ten urban greenspaces; five high-income and five low-income neighborhoods in Tarrant County, TX, USA. We then quantified invertebrate and bat abundance and diversity using Shannon’s and Simpson’s diversity indices and examined correlations between invertebrate diversity, bat activity, and household income. This study will help to understand the ecological consequences of socio-economic disparities in urban habitats, which can inform conservation strategies to enhance urban biodiversity and bat conservation efforts.

Fort Worth, the fastest-growing city in Texas, contains many vacant land plots suitable for urban agriculture—an opportunity to address local food deserts. However, unsustainable farming can degrade soil organic carbon and reduce productivity. This study assessed soil carbon dynamics in a food waste compost–amended urban farm in Fort Worth. Experimental plots, including compost-amended and control treatments (triplicated), were established and monitored monthly from January 2023 to July 2024. Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to calculate the recalcitrance index (R50), indicating carbon stability. Results showed compost-treated soils had more stable carbon and structured lignin degradation. In contrast, untreated soils exhibited unstructured decomposition and faster carbon loss. Compost enhances soil health and carbon cycling, and future research should explore combining compost with cover crops to maximize carbon sequestration and microbial activity in urban farming systems.

Cities are increasingly adopting and promoting actions in support of their sustainability goals to enhance community well being and improve environmental quality. These large, sprawling cities actions include providing more sustainable transportation choices, like bike lanes, micro-mobility options (e.g., scooters or e-bikes), and walkability. Yet, as municipalities offer these alternatives, increasing urban heat may deter residents and visitors from using them. Cities, such as Austin, Texas, have become hotter over the last decade due to increasing impervious cover and tree loss associated with urban (re)development. Urban trees provide cooling effects to the surrounding area through evapotranspiration and shade. Thus, tree shade is important to promote more walkable neighborhoods, especially in the summer months. This study looks at the relationship between canopy cover and urban walkability in Austin. Using a Geographic Information System, we examined the interactions between canopy cover, walkability, socioeconomic data (i.e., race, gender, income, and home-owner status), and sidewalks. In doing so, we found a total of 2,552.47 km of shaded sidewalks, equaling, about a third of all sidewalks in Austin. We also found that canopy cover and walkability vary by location. Some areas have high canopy cover and low walkability, whereas other areas have low canopy cover and high walkability. Preliminary results also indicate that some areas have less shaded sidewalks than others and vary based on an area’s socioeconomic characteristics. The results of this research may be used to promote sustainable cities and urban forestry along sidewalks to help mitigate the urban heat island effect.