2015 Texas Envirothon
Kerrville
April 11–13, 2015
Results
- 1st Place: Academy of Science & Technology
- 2nd Place: Richardson High School
- 3rd Place: John Cooper School
- Extra Mile Award: Richardson High School, Team B
- Rookie Team Award: Clear Falls High School and St. John's School
Area of Study | Top Score | School, Team |
---|---|---|
Aquatics | 82/100 | Richardson High School, Team A |
Forestry | 96/100 | Academy of Science and Technology, Team A |
Soils | 96/100 | Academy of Science and Technology, Team A |
Wildlife | 88/100 | Richardson High School, Team A |
Current Issue | 96/100 | Rio Hondo High School, Ocelots |
Oral Presentation | 187/100 | Science Academy of South Texas, Team Maroon |
Sponsors
Financial support for the event was provided by conservation districts and natural resource related agencies and businesses from across Texas.
- Eastman
- LyondellBasell
- Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
- Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
- NCF-Envirothon/U.S. Forest Service
- Texas Association of Environmental Professionals
- Texas Forestry Association
- University of Houston-Clear Lake/Environmental Institute of Houston
- San Antonio Water System
- Texas Association for Environmental Education
- Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts
- Harris County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Hosts
- Schreiner University
- Riverside Nature Center
- Kerrville Wildlife Management Area
Participating Schools
Twenty teams from across Texas took part in the competition.
- Academy of Science and Technology, The Woodlands
- Clear Falls High School, League City
- John Cooper School, The Woodlands
- J Frank Dobie High School, Houston
- Harmony School of Science, Sugarland
- Hallsville High School, Hallsville
- Richardson High School, Richardson
- Rio Hondo High School, Rio Hondo
- St John's School, Houston
- Science Academy of South Texas, Mercedes
- South Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie
- Thomas Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School, Pharr
- Williamson County 4-H, Georgetown
Press Release Final Scores Photo Gallery
Resources
Key Topics & Learning Objectives
Urban and Community Forestry
Key Topics
- Understand what sustainable urban & community forestry is and why it is important.
- Understand of the numerous benefits of urban/community forests to society, often referred to as ecosystem services.
- Understand the costs associated with urban/community forests.
- Understand what an urban forest management plan is and why it is an essential tool.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the economic, social, and environmental benefits of urban/community trees to local communities.
- Comprehension of the effects of urban/community trees on air quality and water quality.
- Knowledge of research showing that trees contribute to our health, well-being and quality of life.
- Understanding of threats to urban/community forests such as invasive species, insect and diseases, climate change, fire, air pollution, lack of management capability and development pressures.
- Understand what a tree inventory is and what it is used for.
- Understand the components of an urban/community forest management plan.
- Basic knowledge of models and tools used to calculate the value of tree canopy functions.
Current Issue: Recommended Resources
- A Guide to Assessing Urban Forests
- Austin's Urban Forest Plan: A Master Plan for Public Property (Online Document Viewer)
- Benefits of Trees
- Green Roofs, City of Austin
- Green roofs save money, energy but challenge Texas plants
- Guides to Urban Forest Management Planning
- i-Tree Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests
- Stormwater to Street Trees – Engineering Urban Forests for Storm Water Management
- Sustaining America's Urban Trees and Forests
- The Benefits of Urban Trees
- The Costs of Managing an Urban Forest
- Urban & Community Forestry
- Urban & Community Tree Inventories, NCFS
- Urban Ecosystem Analysis for the Houston Gulf Coast Region (PDF)
- Urban Forestry Best Management Practices for Public Works Managers
- Urban Forestry, Texas Forest Service
- Urban Forests and Climate Change, US Forest Service
Additional Resources