Given a bi-connected graph $G$, say an edge $e$ is **destructive** if $G-e$ has a cut-vertex. Say that $e$ is $(T,F_1,F_2)$-**critical** if there is a spanning tree $T$ and forests $F_1,F_2$ as in you description with respect to which $e$ critical. 1. Must a $(T,F_1,F_2)$-**critical** edge be destructive? The answer is no. Here is a example based on the answer given by @smapers. Here is a $14$ point graph with $38$ edges. If desired, add another $4$ edges on the left and $3$ on the right to make each a $K_7$. Either way, there are no destructive edges. The tree $T$ is the green path, The forest $F_1$ is the red tree And $F_2$ consists of two blue paths. Then the central red edge is critical but not destructive. [![enter image description here][1]][1] If one wants $G$ to have some destructive edges and be exactly bi-connected then, as suggested, add some new vertices and edges making a $K_5$, connect it to the $K_7$ on the left two new edges which will become part of $T$ (which will lose an edge elsewhere to avoid a cycle) and then add enough edges to make $F_1$ and $F_2$ valid. This illustrates: 2. Do the $(T,F_1,F_2)$-critical edges include all the destructive edges? Again, no. One can certainly arrange to have some of the destructive edges in $T.$ 3. If $e$ is destructive is there some way to choose the tree and forests so that it is critical? Yes. Assign $e$ to $F_1$ with the rest to be determined. Now $G-e$ is connected with a cut-vertex $v$. Start with all the edges on $v$ and extend that to a spanning tree $T$. Now $G-e-T$ is disconnected with the vertices of $e$ in distinct connected components. So $F_2$ will have those two vertices in distinct distinct trees. How ever we form $F_1$ (using $e$ ) and $F_2$, The destructive edge $e$ is critical. Note that some of the trees in $F_2$ might be isolated vertices. [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/pWTOx.png [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/vKIid.png