community street tree inventory

Preparing for the Emerald Ash Borerhttp://nyis.info

Community Street Tree Inventory

David Cappaert, Michigan State U

niversity, bugwood.org


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


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


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


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.


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


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.


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


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

http://www.itreetools.org/


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.


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


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


How An Inventory Is Done

Each tree is visited and data is entered into PDAs or on Paper


First- Species of the tree

Data Collected


Diameter of the tree at Breast

Height –4 ½ Feetaka DBH

Data Collected


Location Information: Street Address and/or GPS

Data Collected


Planting Spaces and Site Location Types

Data Collected


Utility Wire Conflicts(Single and Triple Phase)

Data Collected


Condition of Wood and Leaves

Dead – Poor – Fair – Good

Data Collected


Maintenance RecommendationsNone – Train – Routine Prune – High Priority Prune

Data Collected


Consult Needed Designation(Tree should be inspected by a certified arborist )

Data Collected


You can’t manage what you don’t know!


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.


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


Sufficient young trees Not enough young trees

Diameter ProfileAre enough young trees being planted to

compensate for the loss of older trees?

Data Analysis


Tree ConditionWhat is the general condition of the

street tree population?

Data Analysis


Tree MaintenanceAre particular species responsible for most

maintenance needs and concerns?

Data Analysis


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

http://www.itreetools.org/


Annual Benefits of an Urban Forest

Tall growing tree species (like ash) provide most environmental and social benefits


Typical DeliverablesInventory Report

Report of Data Analysis

and Management

Recommendations


Typical DeliverablesExcel file of inventory data


GIS shapefiles of tree locations …

Typical Deliverables


… and planting spaces

Typical Deliverables


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


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


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


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.


Inventories Provide a Valuable Community Service


… And they’re fun!


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

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

community street tree inventory

Documents

emerald ash borerhttp

ash tree id

community arborists

street tree inventories

community spaces

community identity

community officials

tree lined street