Title:	Assistant Professor of Urban and Community Forestry
	Phone:	814-863-7941
	Email:	wfe1@psu.edu
	Workshops:	click here for upcoming workshop information
	Address:	The Pennsylvania State University School of Forest Resources 334 Forest Resources Building University Park, PA 16802

 

 

Education:

B.S., University of Montana (1980)

M.B.A., University of Montana (1986)

Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University (2002)

Academic Interests:

Community forest management; land-use planning and regulation for resource conservation; open space conservation; volunteerism; arboriculture and tree care.

Courses Taught:

Urban Forestry Management

Professional Affiliation:

Chair Elect, Society of American Foresters Urban Forestry Working Group; Chairperson, Borough of State College Municipal Tree Commission; Executive Board Member, PennDel Chapter International Society of Arboriculture; Extension Liaison, Pennsylvania Community Forestry Council; Local Program Chair, 2004 International Society of Arboriculture National Meeting.

Recent Research/Educational Projects:

Can Municipalities Within a Growing Watershed Integrate Natural Systems Using Land Use Planning and Regulation?
A community contains complex interrelationships among human and natural systems. The green infrastructure of nature is a critical component of a healthy community. Land use planning and regulation regularly guides development proposals and decisions that impact the health and quality of both natural systems and communities. An understanding of the ability of comprehensive land use planning to conserve natural systems is crucial.

Ethnic Attitudes Towards the Community Forest
An understanding of the attitudes and behaviors of ethnic groups, including African Americans, Hispanics, Korean, and Chinese immigrants, is important in planning for and managing public landscapes and parks. Many times, these groups live in proximity to major urban greenspaces, such as Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. We have used survey instruments and key informant interviews to better understand the attitudes, behaviors, and fears of ethnic and gender groups towards these public places.

Successful Community Tree Programs
Recent studies in northeastern Pennsylvania have provided evidence that local tree commissions had difficulties completing community forestry practices for a number of reasons including a lack of volunteer time and a need for additional funding support and technical/educational assistance. The study also showed that small town tree commissioners viewed and defined urban forest sustainability much more practically than has been expressed in the extant literature.

A Better Understanding of Open Space Conservation in a Developing Watershed
Often lost in the complicated development and growth arena, planning for open space conservation is important for healthy communities. Although expensive and time-consuming, key informant interviews helped provide a logical process for a deeper understanding of open space conservation in a developing Pennsylvania watershed. The interviews provided information about attitudes, issues, and obstacles expressed by leaders. They also provided evidence that concerns expressed by experienced planners since the 1960s about land use planning and open space conservation in growing areas continues to be relevant today.

Selected Publications:

Gerhold, H., W. Elmendorf, and R. Stahl. 1994. “Urban foresters and roadside managers meet at the crossroads.” Journal of Forestry 92(10):21.

Elmendorf, W.F., and A. E. Luloff. 1999. “Using ecosystem-based and traditional land use planning to conserve greenspace.” Journal of Arboriculture 25(5): 264-273.

Elmendorf, W.F., and A. E. Luloff. 2001. “Using qualitative data collection methods when planning for community forests.” Journal of Arboriculture 27(3):139-151.

Elmendorf, W. F., V. J. Cotrone, and J. T. Mullen. 2003. “Urban forestry practices and sustainability: Contrasting a Pennsylvania study.” Journal of Arboriculture 29(4): 237-249.

Elmendorf, W.F., T. Watson, and S. Lilly. 2005. “Arboriculture and urban forestry education in the United States: Results of an educators survey.” Journal of Arboriculture 31(3): 138-149.

Elmendorf, W. F., F. Willits, and V. Sasisharan. 2005. “Urban park and forest participation and landscape preference: A review of the relevant literature.” Journal of Arboriculture 31(6): 311-317.

Elmendorf, W. F., F. Willits, V. Sasisharan, and G. Godbey. 2005. “Urban park and forest participation and landscape preference: A comparison between Blacks and Whites in Philadelphia and Atlanta.” Journal of Arboriculture 31(6): 318-326.

Ching-Hua, Ho., V. Sasisharan., W. Elmendorf., F. Willits., A. Graefe., and G. Godbey. 2005. “Gender and ethnic variation in urban park preferences, visitation, and perceived benefits.” Journal of Leisure Research. 37(3): 124-135.

Thompson, J., W. Elmendorf, M. McDonough, and L. Burban. 2005 “Participation and conflict: Lessons learned from community forestry.” Journal of Forestry. 103(4):174- 178.

Elmendorf, W.F., and A. E. Luloff. 2006. “Using key informant interviews to better understand open space conservation in a developing watershed.” Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 32(2):54-61.

Journal Articles Accepted for Publication

 

Lord, B., and W. Elmendorf. 2006. “Do recreation organizations represent all participants?” Journal of Park and Recreation Administration.

Selected Extension Publications

Elmendorf, W.F. 1992-2006.Editor and Contributor, Urban Forestry News.The newsletter of The Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council.

Elmendorf, W.F. 1994-2006.Editor and Contributor, Sylvan Communities. The magazine of the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council.

Elmendorf, W.F., 1994. Sustaining and Funding an Urban Forestry Program. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ., Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W. F. 1994. Municipal Tree Commissions. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W.F. 1994. Working with Local Government for Successful Urban Forests. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W.F. 1994. Opportunities for Volunteers. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 4pp.

Elmendorf, W. F. 1994. Annual Budgets for Community Tree Programs. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W.F. 1994. Annual Work Plans for Tree Commissions. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W., and H. Gerhold. 1996. Editors and Contributors. A Guide for Municipal Tree Commissions. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Forestry Association and Pennsylvania Bureau of Conservation and Natural Resources. 52pp.

Elmendorf, W. and H. Gerhold. 1997. Pruning Landscape Trees. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 10pp.

Bazan, E.J., W. F. Elmendorf, and H. D. Gerhold. 1997. Fundraising for Community Forestry Projects. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council. 31pp.

Elmendorf, W. and H. Gerhold. 1998. Don’t Top Trees. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W., H. Gerhold and L. Kuhns. 1998. Preserving Trees in Development Projects.University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 26 pp.

Gerhold, H. and W. Elmendorf. 1998. Questions about Trees and Utilities. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 2pp.

Elmendorf, W. F., and S. Smith. 1999. Planting Trees in Your Urban Forest: A Guide for Youth. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 32pp.

Elmendorf, W. F., H. D. Gerhold, and L. Kuhns. 2000. Young Tree Planting and After Care. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State University Cooperative Extension. 30pp.

Elmendorf, W.F., G. Morman, and H. Gerhold. 2000. Seven Common Diseases of Pennsylvania Landscape Trees. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 7pp.

Elmendorf, W.F. and J. Finley. A Guide to Backyard Trees. 2001. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penn State Cooperative Extension Forest Stewardship Program. 15pp.
Smith, S., W. Elmendorf., and H. Gerhold. 2005. From the Woods: Community Forests. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 4pp.

Elmendorf, W., D. Kincaid, and J. Clay. 2005. Working with the Media: A Guide for Tree, Environmental Advisory, and Planning Commissions. University Park, Pennsylvania: Penna. State Univ. Cooperative Extension. 44pp.