Urban forestry

When Joseph Urias transferred to UC Davis from a community college two years ago, he found allies in the Department of Plant Sciences. The flexible program let him customize his learning. Passionate about the interface of plants and people, he dove into the study of horticulture and nursery management: He aimed to strengthen the hands-on learning he was getting at Planting Justice, a nonprofit nursery and community center in Deep East Oakland.

“Education is like going to the gym,” Urias said. “Learning is exercise for your mind.” And like after a run, he’s feeling good.

Trees in our towns give us shade and relief from the heat, but how long can they keep that up as our climate warms and water becomes scarcer? Scientists at UC Davis are figuring that out and hope to create guides for homeowners, landscapers, nursery managers, parklands officials, urban planners and others trying to preserve islands of refuge within our hot-and-hotter urban centers.