This document discusses updating an urban tree inventory for a city. It provides details on why regular updates are important, how to approach an update, and examples of results from previous inventory updates. Key reasons to update include increased public safety, efficiency, and justifying budgets. Important factors for the update include whether it is a new inventory or updating an existing one. Results shown include changes in tree numbers, diameters, and species composition from inventory updates in two cities over time periods of 7-13 years. Regular updates allow tracking of tree performance and growth.
3. ISA Pledge
I pledge as an ISA Certified Arborist
to:
• Adhere to the Code of Ethics,
• Comply with all accepted
professional standards,
• Deliver safe & competent services
with objective & independent
professional judgment,
• Disclose potential conflict of interest,
and
• Follow appropriate health & safety
procedures to protect clients,
employers, employees, and the
public.
4. What’s Happening?
Our urban forests
are threatened by:
exotic and
invasive insects and
diseases
Budgets
Construction
Weather
patterns/events
Policy
Etc…..
How can we best manage sustainably?
5. Where to Start?
?
Public Tree
Inventories
Management Plans
Urban Tree Canopy
Analysis
Tree
Ordinances
Hyperspectral
Imagery
i-Tree Benefits Model
26. Relative Performance
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
MAPLE, NORWAY
LINDEN, LITTLELEAF
MAPLE, SILVER
MAPLE, HEDGE
MAPLE, RED
MAPLE, CRIMSON KING
LILAC, IVORY SILK
MAPLE, DEBORAH SCHWEDLER
CRABAPPLE
HONEYLOCUST
LINDEN, CRIMEAN
PEAR, CALLERY
HORSECHESTNUT, COMMON
LONDON PLANETREE
Condition Species with at least 1,000 trees
Dead Fair Good Other Poor
21%
11%
20%
13%
37%
26%
14%
50%
12%
20%
24%
3%
13%
9%
27. Results - Buffalo
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
ASH SPECIES
PINE, SPECIES
BIRCH, ASIAN WHITE
ASH, BLUE
COTTONWOOD, EASTERN
POPLAR, WHITE
POPLAR, SPECIES
WILLOW, WEEPING
FIR, WHITE
EMPRESS TREE
MAPLE, BOXELDER
VIBURNUM SPECIES
BIRCH, EUROPEAN
BEECH, PURPLE LEAF
DBH
Average of Growth
28. Top 10 Species Still
Recommended for Removal (315)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
NumberofTrees
29. Top 5 Species Still Poor
Recommended for Removal
45, 43%
24, 23%
20, 19%
9, 9%
6, 6%
MAPLE, NORWAY
MAPLE, SILVER
LINDEN, LITTLELEAF
HORSECHESTNUT, COMMON
CHERRY, KWANZAN
162 total
trees
34. Planting Sites
2001
• 52,933 total vacant sites
• 48,761 “real” planting sites
2014
• 44,619 available planting sites
• 4,142 planted trees
35. Conclusions
• Know why you want an update?
– New vs update
• Opportunity for data analysis
– Species performance
• Growspace
• Condition
• Growth rate
• Maintenance
• Costs
• Frequency
It is no secret that our urban forests are under increasing pressure from diverse and common problems throughout the country. Today, more than ever this seems to more and more prevalent, as budgets are decreased, space is limited and the need for green space is increasing. It is important to remember that your Urban Forest is part of the City’s infrastructure and it is not a place that people “go to” but something that we are in everyday oftentimes all day.
Once you make a commitment to proactively and sustainably manage your urban forest the 1st step is often the hardest. “We have too much of a backlog of work, we don’t know what we have, we don’t have the funding, etc.” I think it is important to think of the entire forest, both public and private, and capitalize on the low hanging fruit. There are many urban forest mgmt tools available and each one has advantages, disadvantages with specific costs and outcomes. With a Master Plan you are in a better position to maximize opportunities that are presented and can more readily incorporate findings into results.