Community Street Tree Inventory
description
Transcript of Community Street Tree Inventory
Preparing for the Emerald Ash Borerhttp://nyis.info
Community Street Tree Inventory
David Cappaert, Michigan State U
niversity, bugwood.org
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With the Emerald Ash Borer at your doorstep:
How many ash trees does your community have?
What condition are they in?
Where are they?Conduct an Inventory
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InventoryA Street Tree Inventory is a census – a count – of all
publicly managed trees
Inventory Options• All public trees (trees in right-of-ways (streets), on
public property, in parks, etc.)• Only public ash trees• Include private ash trees• Or , private ash trees that impact community spaces
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Why do a street tree inventory? To know current state of publicly managed
community trees Identify where to focus limited resources Improve long term management and health
to maximize forest benefits Quantify the economic and environmental
benefits of the urban forest resource To beautify the community and contribute to
community identity
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Results of an Inventory
1) Tree specific data: species, location, and condition
This can be used to develop management priorities, such as:
• Determine which trees need to be removed immediately
• Determine if some ash trees are suitable to be treated with insecticides
• Identify if some neighborhoods/streets will be affected more by EAB.
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Results of Inventory
2) Secondary Data Calculations: Economic and Environmental Benefits Calculated through i-Tree (optional)
This information can be used to demonstrate the impact of EAB on your community.
• Stormwater Runoff Captured• Energy Savings• Aesthetic Value, Increased Property Values• Air Pollution Reduction
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Data collected in an inventory• Species • Diameter• Condition* • Location • Available planting
spaces• Management recommendation for each tree*
* If using volunteers to conduct the inventory, risk evaluation and management recommendations should be made by professionals.
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Who conducts the inventory?
• Staff Urban Forester– Or horticulture/forestry professionals on staff
• Hire a consulting arborist or consulting municipal forester/company
• Hire SWAT team from Cornell, for smaller communities, neighborhoods.
• Work with volunteers and community groups
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Data Collection Systems
• Free software is available:– i-Tree Suite– Developed by the
USDA Forest Service and many partners.– http://www.itreetools.org
• Use paper inventory sheets– i-Tree data fields– Create your own
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Conducting an Inventory
Two Levels:• Walking survey: collect complete details on
each tree• Windshield/Driving survey: collect only basic
data.Recommendation: walking survey.
When prompt management action is needed, complete data is crucial.
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The Volunteer Inventory Process
• Recruit willing volunteers• Familiarize yourself with i-Tree Streets or your
inventory data collection process• Train Volunteers– Indoor Overview (like this presentation)– Outdoor/Hands-On Skill Training
• Process Data– Collect data sheets/download PDAs– Run through i-Tree Tools
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Physical toolsFor each two person crew:• Hand held computer or
data sheets• Diameter tape• GPS*• Map of community with
right-of-way marked• Identifying clothes*• Brochures for
dissemination**optional
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How An Inventory Is Done
Each tree is visited and data is entered into PDAs or on Paper
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First- Species of the tree
Data Collected
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Diameter of the tree at Breast
Height –4 ½ Feetaka DBH
Data Collected
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Location Information: Street Address and/or GPS
Data Collected
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Planting Spaces and Site Location Types
Data Collected
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Utility Wire Conflicts(Single and Triple Phase)
Data Collected
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Condition of Wood and Leaves
Dead – Poor – Fair – Good
Data Collected
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Maintenance RecommendationsNone – Train – Routine Prune – High Priority Prune
Data Collected
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Consult Needed Designation(Tree should be inspected by a certified arborist )
Data Collected
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You can’t manage what you don’t know!
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Compilation
Once all the data has been collected and reviewed it can be run though i-Tree, or summarized on a spreadsheet.
Now you can look at the make-up of your trees, their location, and their condition and begin to make decisions.
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Data AnalysisSpecies and Genus Distribution
Is there sufficient diversity to provideresilience to an invasive pest or disease?
30-20-10 ruleNo more than:30% from one Family20% from one Genus10% from one Species
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Sufficient young trees Not enough young trees
Diameter ProfileAre enough young trees being planted to
compensate for the loss of older trees?
Data Analysis
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Tree ConditionWhat is the general condition of the
street tree population?
Data Analysis
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Tree MaintenanceAre particular species responsible for most
maintenance needs and concerns?
Data Analysis
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Additional Data Analysis- Tree Benefits
i-Tree software quantifies the
environmental and social benefits
The economic value of your trees is a useful tool for garnering support for
your urban forest.And, it’s free. http://www.itreetools.org
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Annual Benefits of an Urban Forest
Tall growing tree species (like ash) provide most environmental and social benefits
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Typical DeliverablesInventory Report
Report of Data Analysis
and Management
Recommendations
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Typical DeliverablesExcel file of inventory data
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GIS shapefiles of tree locations …
Typical Deliverables
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… and planting spaces
Typical Deliverables
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Ash Tree Mapping
GIS Maps can be customized to show ash tree locations, locations of high risk trees, or other features.
Ash trees are highlighted on this map
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Ash Specific DataOnce you have this information, ash tree inventory data
can be used to make management decisions.• Identify which ash trees:– Should be immediately removed: consult needed, poor
condition, etc.– Are good candidates for EAB insecticide treatments– Are owned or managed by an entity other than your
community (utility company, adjacent property owner)
All this should go in your EAB Community Preparedness Plan
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Who to go to for help?
Collecting and processing inventory data can be daunting, but there are people who can help with training and data analysis.
• CCE Staff• Consulting Arborists/ Municipal Foresters• Foresters (public and private)• NRCS or Soil and Water Conservation District Staff, • Emerald Ash Borer Task Forces and their Members
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EAB Task Forces
EAB Task Forces are groups from a larger community or region that come together to share knowledge, skills, and tools and discuss the state of EAB in their community.
There may be planners, community foresters, horticulture or forestry professionals, landscapers and community volunteers on these committee. Contact yours to see if they can help.
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Inventories Provide a Valuable Community Service
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… And they’re fun!
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Credits• Presentation prepared by – Rebecca Hargrave, Horticulture and Natural Resources
Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County, [email protected], and
– Fred Cowett, Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University, Department of Horticulture- Picture and Map Credit
– Mark Whitmore, Forest Entomologist with Cornell University Department of Natural Resources [email protected]
• Funded by USDA/APHIS andCornell University
April 28, 2011