| OPPORTUNITIES | THREATS |
DEMOGRAPHIC - Population - Age Distribution - Wealth - Urbanization - Health - Education levels - Migration | Political leaning in cities tend to lean much more toward parties that favor environmental policy and regulation. This makes urban areas more likely to adopt measures to expand trees in cities. Education levels in cities, in Virginia and other states, tend to be higher, meaning that there is a good likelihood that stakeholders and residents are aware of the environmental and health needs associated with urban trees.
| Overall environmental justice concerns occur within Virginia cities, such as Richmond, Roanoke, and Fredericksburg Most economic hardship and lack of funds occur in regions near Appalachia.
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ENVIRONMENT - Climate - Water - Energy - Food/Ag - Pollution - Biodiversity - Land use | Virginia’s climate does not heavily restrict plant type and maintenance, compared to areas with extreme cold, heat, or precipitation. The urban heat island effect benefits immensely from urban forestry. As the impacts of climate change increase average temperatures, there will be an increased incentive to invest in urban trees.
| The majority of major population centers in Virginia are located along Route 81 or 95, creating dangerous corridors of diesel PM pollution. Virginia’s rural areas are dominated by agriculture and farming, meaning that the outskirts of towns and cities are commonly used for large, tree-less agricultural spaces.
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MARKET - Mechanism - Key goods and services - Supply chains and virtual resources - Norms of best management practice - Market share and marketing - Certification and standards - Unions and trade organizations | As developments expand, there are opportunities to expand incentives for urban forestry, such as through stormwater compliance and bioretention requirements. Many new sites are now required to have some sort of green infrastructure. Overall, green infrastructure improves the local aesthetic and economic value of private poetry and multi-use developments, especially in areas that want to encourage walkable, nature-based areas.
| Overall BMP practices vary across the state, so many counties do not favor bioretention over more engineered “gray infrastructure” With expanding markets, there is a higher amount of development, leading to overall deforestation. This would require more effort and measures to be put in place to ensure urban trees remain in place. Extreme housing burdens in these areas make it more difficult to allocate spaces for trees and other urban plants.
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GOVERNANCE - Role of local, state, and nation in leading change. - Emerging institutions and organizations with influence (corporate, NGO, media, etc.) - Legacy and tradition of collaboration and partnerships - Property rights | All cities and counties have the authority to implement varying degrees of enforcement regarding “Green” spaces. This allows those jurisdictions to legally require the growth of urban forests. The growth of several NGOs brings opportunities for stakeholder cooperation to improve cities' green spaces while also achieving economic and social gains as well.
| Due to the division of authority, some counties and local jurisdictions in VA vary in regulations and requirements, leading to some cities having more incentives to spread urban forestry while others do not. There may be limitations to encourage tree planting for private property beyond jurisdictional regulations.
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