This presentation shows studying trees can contribute to meaningful watershed educational experiences. Using the i-Tree Design, a free, online tool to make simple estimations of benefits that trees provide: CO2 mitigation, air quality effects, stormwater interception, plus evaluating tree effects on a nearby building's energy use. Ideas are given for STEM and service learning extensions
Watershed Ed, Trees and MWEEs (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences) Using i-Tree Design
1. Watershed Ed:
Trees and MWEEs*
Using i-Tree Design in Schools
Mary Van Dyke
Urban Forestry Roundtable
2014
*Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences
3. • History
• What is a MWEE?
• Community Partners and Logistics
• Day 1 – Build Relationships
• Day 2 – Our Tree and i-Tree
• Day 3 – Trees in the Ecosystem
• Stewardship and STEM Extensions
• Resources: http://goo.gl/GuX5f
Trees and MWEEs
5. • Investigative or project oriented
• Richly structured and based on
high-quality instructional design
• Integral part of the instructional
program
• Part of a sustained activity
• Consider watershed as a system
• Involve external sharing and
communication
• Enhanced by natural resources
personnel, community partners
• For all students
6.
7.
8. Costs and Materials
Minimal Investment
• Tree ID books
• Tapes
• Cameras
• Computers
Class Time
• 3 Sessions
for Initial Study
When
• Late March to October
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. • Introduce Community Partners
• My Favorite Tree
• Goods From the Woods
• Tree Biology
21. • Choose and Identify a Tree
• Tree Health Assessment
• Use i-Tree Design
http://www.itreetools.org/design.php
• Monetize the Tree’s
Ecosystem Services
22. o Stormwater Runoff Reduction
o Energy Consumption
o Air Quality
o CO2 Sequestration
o Wildlife Habitat Value
o Social Value
o Property Value
o Timber Value
23. 1. Where are you?
Type in your street
address
i-Tree Design in 4 Easy Steps
2. Draw the outline of
building of interest
(house, school etc)
Add approx. building date
i-Tree Design is a free online tool at www.itreetools.org/design.
24. 3. Add in your tree’s data:
- Species
- Circumference or diameter
- Health condition
- Exposure to sunlight
Place your tree on the map
Repeat with other trees
4. Estimate current and
future tree benefits
i-Tree Design in 4 Easy Steps
25. e.g. Dissolved Oxygen Project, at Gunston Middle School
Gunston Middle School
2700 S Lang Street Arlington 22207
Tree Benefits calculated using i-Tree Design
Tree
# Species
Circumference at
Breast Height,
inches
Condition
Excellent,
Good, Fair,
Poor , Dead or
Dying
$$ Overall
Annual Benefit
calculated by
i-Tree Design
1
Cherry Tree,
Kwanzaan 34 Poor $7.80
2
Loblolly Pine on
bank 64 Good $61.30
3
White Pine on
median 49 Excellent $37.44
4 Oak #1 73 Fair $74.29
6th Grade Team at Gunston Middle School
26. Cherry, Kwanzan Cherry, Kwanzan Pine, Eastern
White
Pine, Eastern
White
Condition Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent
Circumference 34” 34” 34” 49”
Diameter 10.8” 10.8” 10.8” 15.6”
Total Benefits $ 7.80 $ 13.12 $ 18.55 $ 37.44
Stormwater
Intercepted
525 gallons 807 gallons 1232 gallons 2582 gallons
CO2 reduction 115 pounds 230 pounds 213 pounds 399 pounds
6th Grade Team at Gunston Middle School
40. Use i-Tree Design to
Assess Impact Value for 1-99 years
• Project Goal includes:
Plant 15 Trees along a Potomac Stream Buffer
• Impact Value: $200,000+ benefits over next 99 years
• Huge impact, low cost
e.g. Dissolved Oxygen Project at George Washington Middle School
41. Use i-Tree Design to
Budget and Market
e.g. Dissolved Oxygen Project at George Washington Middle School
45. • Arlington Public Schools
• Gunston Middle School
• Arlington Traditional
School
• Tuckahoe Elementary
School
• Alexandria Public Schools
• George Washington
Middle School
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• 4-H
• Master Gardeners
• Arlington Regional Master
Naturalists
• Tree Stewards Arlington Alexandria
• Arlington County
• Casey Trees
• Earth Force
• i-Tree
Notes de l'éditeur
ObservationCatalyst for Design and StewardshipEnglish/Spanish StudentsMixed AbilitiesReplicable for all ClassesSOLsQualitativeQuantitativeCommunity PartnersLow Cost