Diverse Growth: Exploring Symbiotic Tree-Human Relationships in Landscape Ecosystems to Inspire Diversity in Urban Tree Plantings at Civic Center Park in Fargo, North Dakota
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Abstract
Trees and humans have a symbiotic relationship, trees provide
beauty, protection, and economic gains for humans and we
take care of them to live fruitful lives. They can often have
multiple humans or even animal caretakers to help sustain
the environment around them. Much like humans, trees have
uncontrollable pandemics causing death in trees. Chestnut
Blight of the turn into the twentieth century, Dutch Elm Disease
in the mid to late century and more recently the rapid spread of
Emerald Ash Borer currently devastating North America. These
pandemics create gaps in canopies leading to lower heating and
cooling efficiency, and lesser aesthetics in urban environments.
After years of study there are now guidelines of how to create a
diverse and sustainable ecosystem. While it may be impossible
to predict what species will be in nature’s cross-hairs next,
through sustainable diversity we can hedge our bets to lessen
the effects tree of pandemics to protect our urban and even
natural ecosystems. Diverse Growth is a landscape initiative to
introduce northern native tree species to Fargo in the form of an
educational landscape arboretum and urban farm initiative that
builds on ideas already accepted by the greater community and
natural environment alike.