Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers - Press Releases:
The Giving Tree Program of Our Community’s Children is a project focused on green industries and environmental issues. Participants will complete a comprehensive tree inventory within their own southeast neighborhood in Grand Rapids. They will measure and plot the location of trees, provide tree maintenance where necessary, and educate residents about the economic and energy-saving values of healthy trees. This program is especially note-worthy because the students will provide a much-needed service that the city would likely be unable to provide itself, and it will educate students to be good stewards of the environment.
Showing posts with label inventory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inventory. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Middlebury College uses Google Earth to share campus tree map; Middlebury, VT
Campus Tree Map updated « The Middlebury Landscape:
I’ve posted a new export of the campus tree map Google Earth file, on the Campus Tree map page. I’ve added quite a few more campus trees to it, and the official count now stands at 2279. There are a couple of more locations I would like to map, and quite a few more pictures I’d like to find the time to take. This iteration, though, is pretty close to complete.
I risked the potato chips in the keyboard, brushed off my math skills, and starting looking at our tree population in Excel over lunch(es). I’m no spreadsheet guru, but the information I pulled out is interesting, and tells me we’re pointed in the right direction in our urban forest here.
I’ve posted a new export of the campus tree map Google Earth file, on the Campus Tree map page. I’ve added quite a few more campus trees to it, and the official count now stands at 2279. There are a couple of more locations I would like to map, and quite a few more pictures I’d like to find the time to take. This iteration, though, is pretty close to complete.
I risked the potato chips in the keyboard, brushed off my math skills, and starting looking at our tree population in Excel over lunch(es). I’m no spreadsheet guru, but the information I pulled out is interesting, and tells me we’re pointed in the right direction in our urban forest here.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tallying all of Montclair's trees to achieve no net loss or enhancement to pre-storm canopy; Montclair, NJ
NorthJersey.com: Tallying all of Montclair's trees:
Crew members from Lewis Contracting cut tree branches that penetrate utility lines on the corner of Bradford and Highland avenues, in Montclair.
Montclair has many trees. The question is, how many? What varieties? And how long will those trees survive?
Municipal Forester Stephen Schuckman is creating the municipality's first-ever tree inventory. He aims to answer these questions.
Schuckman has divided the municipality into 12 sections and he's walking Montclair's streets, marking trees that need be removed and taking note of streets that could use more shade and ornamental trees.
Meanwhile, Montclair High School student John Albanese is interning with Township Councilwoman-At-Large Kathryn Weller-Demming to organize public campaigns that encourage tree planting.
Crew members from Lewis Contracting cut tree branches that penetrate utility lines on the corner of Bradford and Highland avenues, in Montclair.
Montclair has many trees. The question is, how many? What varieties? And how long will those trees survive?
Municipal Forester Stephen Schuckman is creating the municipality's first-ever tree inventory. He aims to answer these questions.
Schuckman has divided the municipality into 12 sections and he's walking Montclair's streets, marking trees that need be removed and taking note of streets that could use more shade and ornamental trees.
Meanwhile, Montclair High School student John Albanese is interning with Township Councilwoman-At-Large Kathryn Weller-Demming to organize public campaigns that encourage tree planting.
NorthJersey.com Staff Photo by Adam Anik
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Panel's recommendations for trees call for inventory, increased diversity, and establishment of advisory board; Fort Wayne, IN
Diversify city__8217_s trees_ panel urges The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.:
Mayor Tom Henry wants the city to take steps to protect its large tree canopy, but protecting thousands of trees will not be cheap.
The mayor’s tree commission, established on Arbor Day in April, released recommendations last week for improving the city’s forestry program.
The recommendations include conducting a study to collect an inventory on all the trees in the city, increase the diversity of trees and establish an ongoing tree advisory board.
Al Moll, city director of parks, served on the committee and plans to present the recommendations to the parks board next week. He said the next step will be critical: devising a plan to implement the recommendations and determine the costs.
Mayor Tom Henry wants the city to take steps to protect its large tree canopy, but protecting thousands of trees will not be cheap.
The mayor’s tree commission, established on Arbor Day in April, released recommendations last week for improving the city’s forestry program.
The recommendations include conducting a study to collect an inventory on all the trees in the city, increase the diversity of trees and establish an ongoing tree advisory board.
Al Moll, city director of parks, served on the committee and plans to present the recommendations to the parks board next week. He said the next step will be critical: devising a plan to implement the recommendations and determine the costs.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
UTC shrinks as crape myrtles begin to dominate city's public tree population; Jefferson, GA
Crape myrtles rule Jefferson landscape News OnlineAthens.com:
JEFFERSON - The crape myrtles are multiplying.
It's been happening slowly, but people who count trees know that the crape myrtle is on its way to tree dominance.
A recent survey of the trees in Jefferson's city parks and on its roadside rights of way revealed that about 33 percent of the town's trees are crape myrtles - a product of recent residential growth and the popularity of the trees among developers and landscapers.
'It's something that homeowners are familiar with, and it's easy to find them,' said Andrew Saunders, an arborist with Forest Resource Solutions. 'There's nothing wrong with crape myrtles, but we would prefer to see crape myrtles make up no more than 10 percent of the total number of trees.'
JEFFERSON - The crape myrtles are multiplying.
It's been happening slowly, but people who count trees know that the crape myrtle is on its way to tree dominance.
A recent survey of the trees in Jefferson's city parks and on its roadside rights of way revealed that about 33 percent of the town's trees are crape myrtles - a product of recent residential growth and the popularity of the trees among developers and landscapers.
'It's something that homeowners are familiar with, and it's easy to find them,' said Andrew Saunders, an arborist with Forest Resource Solutions. 'There's nothing wrong with crape myrtles, but we would prefer to see crape myrtles make up no more than 10 percent of the total number of trees.'
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
i-Tree software package helps town undertake inventory, calculate trees' ecosystem services; Durham, NC
Forest Hills Neighborhood Association: Durham Street Tree Inventory/Canopy Analysis
Trees provide a lot to us as residents of Durham. Just what it is they do for us is sometimes hard to assign a value to. This makes it hard to justify spending the money needed to maintain an urban tree canopy, especially when other issues clamor for scarce resources.The good news is that there is a way to estimate the value of an urban forest. Thanks to a partnership between the Davey Resource Group and the US Forest Service, there is a suite of software called i-Tree that works in conjunction with a set of tools developed specifically for inventorying and evaluating the value, condition, and canopy density of an urban forest.
Trees provide a lot to us as residents of Durham. Just what it is they do for us is sometimes hard to assign a value to. This makes it hard to justify spending the money needed to maintain an urban tree canopy, especially when other issues clamor for scarce resources.The good news is that there is a way to estimate the value of an urban forest. Thanks to a partnership between the Davey Resource Group and the US Forest Service, there is a suite of software called i-Tree that works in conjunction with a set of tools developed specifically for inventorying and evaluating the value, condition, and canopy density of an urban forest.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Smoky Mountains undertake unique effort world-wide - 100% inventory and classification of everything in the ecosystem; NC
Smoky Mountain News | Outdoors
Bastion of biodiversity
Life in the richest place on earth
By Becky Johnson • Staff writer
When Jim Lowe strikes out on his twice-monthly foray to check insect traps in the Smokies, he never knows just what is in store.
Lowe runs various and sundry traps — tiny cups sunk in the ground, large mesh nets draped from poles and funnels dangling in the tree canopy. As a volunteer for the All Taxa Biological Inventory, Lowe ambushes moths, spiders, millipedes, bees, flies, beetles and the whole array of insects in the name of science.
During his collection rounds, he often wonders, “Is this a new species?” It is usually months, or even years, until he knows the answer, after taxonomists get their hands on the specimens and cull through them.
But to Lowe, the ATBI is more than the thrill of the hunt, more than a laundry list of new species or bragging rights as the most diverse park.
“We are asking the fundamental question: what do each of these things do? What is their role in the ecosystem?” said Lowe, who lives outside Robbinsville. “The Smokies is a most extraordinary place. There is so much diversity.”
Bastion of biodiversity
Life in the richest place on earth
By Becky Johnson • Staff writer
When Jim Lowe strikes out on his twice-monthly foray to check insect traps in the Smokies, he never knows just what is in store.
Lowe runs various and sundry traps — tiny cups sunk in the ground, large mesh nets draped from poles and funnels dangling in the tree canopy. As a volunteer for the All Taxa Biological Inventory, Lowe ambushes moths, spiders, millipedes, bees, flies, beetles and the whole array of insects in the name of science.
During his collection rounds, he often wonders, “Is this a new species?” It is usually months, or even years, until he knows the answer, after taxonomists get their hands on the specimens and cull through them.
But to Lowe, the ATBI is more than the thrill of the hunt, more than a laundry list of new species or bragging rights as the most diverse park.
“We are asking the fundamental question: what do each of these things do? What is their role in the ecosystem?” said Lowe, who lives outside Robbinsville. “The Smokies is a most extraordinary place. There is so much diversity.”
Monday, June 15, 2009
Master gardeners survey trees at Hampton city park; Newport News, VA
Master gardeners survey trees at Hampton city park -- dailypress.com
By Matthew Sturdevant | 247-7874
10:04 PM EDT, June 11, 2009
HAMPTON - — A sycamore tree at Gosnold's Hope Park is marked with a silver-colored medallion engraved with the number "1." The bark is falling off a little, but the tree's canopy — or crown — appears healthy and the roots have plenty of grassy area to grow.
It was the first tree identified Monday morning by a group of volunteer master gardeners during the start of the city's first tree inventory in recent years. The tree census will take place over a year's time at the park.
The initial purpose of the inventory is to identify, locate and assess the size and health of every tree at the 105-acre park on East Little Back River Road, across the Southwest Branch of Back River from Langley Air Force Base.
The survey is also a pilot program which could be expanded to other parks, school property and other public land in the city, said Hampton Tree Team Leader Rick Stanley, a certified arborist who works for the city.
By Matthew Sturdevant | 247-7874
10:04 PM EDT, June 11, 2009
HAMPTON - — A sycamore tree at Gosnold's Hope Park is marked with a silver-colored medallion engraved with the number "1." The bark is falling off a little, but the tree's canopy — or crown — appears healthy and the roots have plenty of grassy area to grow.
It was the first tree identified Monday morning by a group of volunteer master gardeners during the start of the city's first tree inventory in recent years. The tree census will take place over a year's time at the park.
The initial purpose of the inventory is to identify, locate and assess the size and health of every tree at the 105-acre park on East Little Back River Road, across the Southwest Branch of Back River from Langley Air Force Base.
The survey is also a pilot program which could be expanded to other parks, school property and other public land in the city, said Hampton Tree Team Leader Rick Stanley, a certified arborist who works for the city.
County sets urban design standards requiring pre-development tree survey and protection; Porter County, IN
Developers must protect trees :: Porter County :: Post-Tribune
June 11, 2009
By Jane Huh, Post-Tribune staff writer
Future property development will have to meet Porter County's new tree preservation standards.
The rules are the latest update to the county's unified development ordinance.
The Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt the proposal at the June 16 meeting, said Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson.
The preservation rules pertain to future development proposals and to the unincorporated areas that are considered urban.
Among the benefits of protecting and promoting the 'tree canopy' are the reduction of air and noise pollution, maintaining community aesthetics and protecting habitats that hold rare or endangered species.
'A large part of it is to retain the feel and look for the county so we have that sense of hometown,' said Kevin Breitzke, county surveyor and plan commission member.
Development plans, subdivision applications and residential permits for parcels greater than five acres must include a tree preservation plan for approval.
The plan would include a preliminary tree survey and inventory.
June 11, 2009
By Jane Huh, Post-Tribune staff writer
Future property development will have to meet Porter County's new tree preservation standards.
The rules are the latest update to the county's unified development ordinance.
The Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt the proposal at the June 16 meeting, said Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson.
The preservation rules pertain to future development proposals and to the unincorporated areas that are considered urban.
Among the benefits of protecting and promoting the 'tree canopy' are the reduction of air and noise pollution, maintaining community aesthetics and protecting habitats that hold rare or endangered species.
'A large part of it is to retain the feel and look for the county so we have that sense of hometown,' said Kevin Breitzke, county surveyor and plan commission member.
Development plans, subdivision applications and residential permits for parcels greater than five acres must include a tree preservation plan for approval.
The plan would include a preliminary tree survey and inventory.
Friday, June 5, 2009
"The Tree Counter" helps India's municipalities create and maintain tree census data using GIS and GPS; India
Meet the tree counter!
K. Sreedevi
2009-06-04 18:35:36
Last Updated: 2009-06-05 15:03:09
He revels in creating inventories of trees and keeps a tab on the number of trees in an area.
Meet Dr Ramesh Madav, Founder & CEO of Terracon Ecotech Pvt. Ltd whose vision is to maintain a census of all trees in the country. And to aid him in his mission, his company, Terracon Ecotech, has developed an indigenous software for maintaining a desktop inventory of trees in a particular area.
When asked why, he responds: ``You can even starve for 10 days but can you live without oxygen for a minute?``
An authority of tree census in India, Dr Madav has successfully tested the most modern census methods, using GPS and GIS technologies. He works closely with corporate and civic bodies to undertake environment-friendly solutions to save trees.
K. Sreedevi
2009-06-04 18:35:36
Last Updated: 2009-06-05 15:03:09
He revels in creating inventories of trees and keeps a tab on the number of trees in an area.
Meet Dr Ramesh Madav, Founder & CEO of Terracon Ecotech Pvt. Ltd whose vision is to maintain a census of all trees in the country. And to aid him in his mission, his company, Terracon Ecotech, has developed an indigenous software for maintaining a desktop inventory of trees in a particular area.
When asked why, he responds: ``You can even starve for 10 days but can you live without oxygen for a minute?``
An authority of tree census in India, Dr Madav has successfully tested the most modern census methods, using GPS and GIS technologies. He works closely with corporate and civic bodies to undertake environment-friendly solutions to save trees.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
250 plots to be surveyed across Nebraska to gather information on state's urban and rural tree resources; Nebraska
Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency: "(Media-Newswire.com) - LINCOLN, Neb. — As part of the Great Plains Tree and Forest Invasives Initiative, approximately 250 randomly selected plots across Nebraska will be visited to evaluate the state's tree resources.
Beginning the end of May, three, two-person crews will be surveying 173 rural windbreak plots in 60 counties across the state and 80 urban plots in Lincoln and Omaha.
This year's inventory is a continuation of the work conducted last summer.
The Great Plains Tree and Forest Invasives Initiative is an effort of state forestry agencies in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota working together to prepare for the arrival of invasive species in the Great Plains. The agencies are assessing the region's tree resources, determining and addressing the potential impacts of invasives to those resources, creating public awareness of invasive species and promoting species diversity. The initiative is funded by a U.S. Forest Service grant and matching state funds."
Beginning the end of May, three, two-person crews will be surveying 173 rural windbreak plots in 60 counties across the state and 80 urban plots in Lincoln and Omaha.
This year's inventory is a continuation of the work conducted last summer.
The Great Plains Tree and Forest Invasives Initiative is an effort of state forestry agencies in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota working together to prepare for the arrival of invasive species in the Great Plains. The agencies are assessing the region's tree resources, determining and addressing the potential impacts of invasives to those resources, creating public awareness of invasive species and promoting species diversity. The initiative is funded by a U.S. Forest Service grant and matching state funds."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Gaston County town spending $2,400 to count trees; Belmont, NC
Gaston County town spending $2,400 to count trees trees, city, miller - Local News - Gaston Gazette: "Gaston County town spending $2,400 to count trees
May 7, 2009 - 8:41 AM
The inventory is being funded by a grant through the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. The city will pay $2,400, half the $4,800 cost of the process.
The goal for city trees is to grow, provide canopies and filter water and air pollutants, said Miller. Ideally, a large tree canopy would shade the street and provide more energy efficiency for homes, he said, possibly taking on the appearance of the Queens Road West area in Charlotte."
May 7, 2009 - 8:41 AM
The inventory is being funded by a grant through the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. The city will pay $2,400, half the $4,800 cost of the process.
The goal for city trees is to grow, provide canopies and filter water and air pollutants, said Miller. Ideally, a large tree canopy would shade the street and provide more energy efficiency for homes, he said, possibly taking on the appearance of the Queens Road West area in Charlotte."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Officials relunctant to declare trees dead - hoping against hope for recovery after storm; Galveston, TX; 4/23/09
Experts take stock of isle tree damage Galveston County Daily News - Galveston,TX,USA
Wednesday, volunteers from the Texas Master Gardener Association joined Texas Forest Service experts to assess the island’s trees, many of which have been leafless since Hurricane Ike covered 75 percent of the island with salty storm surge Sept. 13.The teams are not labeling any tree dead or alive, Merritt said emphatically.But the assessment of the trees on public property will be used to help the city figure out how much debris it will have to dispose of when officials decide it’s time to start cutting the dead trees down.
Wednesday, volunteers from the Texas Master Gardener Association joined Texas Forest Service experts to assess the island’s trees, many of which have been leafless since Hurricane Ike covered 75 percent of the island with salty storm surge Sept. 13.The teams are not labeling any tree dead or alive, Merritt said emphatically.But the assessment of the trees on public property will be used to help the city figure out how much debris it will have to dispose of when officials decide it’s time to start cutting the dead trees down.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mumbai uses GPS to create tree census, protect trees; Mumbai, India; 4/21/09
Tree tracking goes hi-tech Livemint - Delhi,Delhi,India
This time around, Terracon’s botanists will be out on the field with equipment that can determine the exact location of a tree using global positioning system, or GPS, a satellite-based technology typically used in vehicle navigation and location-based information search. Each unit, costing around Rs85,000, records the latitude and longitude of a tree, achieving an accuracy of within 5m. In addition, the botanists will record other details such as the height, canopy and condition of each tree in digital format, all of which will be transferred to a master information system that will plot the data on maps. This will make it easier to audit data and regulate illegal or irregular tree felling.
This time around, Terracon’s botanists will be out on the field with equipment that can determine the exact location of a tree using global positioning system, or GPS, a satellite-based technology typically used in vehicle navigation and location-based information search. Each unit, costing around Rs85,000, records the latitude and longitude of a tree, achieving an accuracy of within 5m. In addition, the botanists will record other details such as the height, canopy and condition of each tree in digital format, all of which will be transferred to a master information system that will plot the data on maps. This will make it easier to audit data and regulate illegal or irregular tree felling.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
GUFF issues call for action, outlines history of failed efforts on better tree management; Guelph, Ontario, Canada; 4/20/09
Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Public Workshop - April 29 ...By Jan Andrea Hall
WE NEED ACTION NOW!
1. We need an interim protective tree by-law now and a permanent by-law as a first priority of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
2. We need comprehensive standards for tree preservation in the city that protect existing trees, and maximize the growth and lifespan potential for all trees.
3. We need an independent urban forestry department, headed by a certified forester and supported by a public advisory committee.
4. We need an inventory of the trees in Guelph so we can evaluate the success of maintaining the health, diversity and canopy of the urban forest.
WE NEED ACTION NOW!
1. We need an interim protective tree by-law now and a permanent by-law as a first priority of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
2. We need comprehensive standards for tree preservation in the city that protect existing trees, and maximize the growth and lifespan potential for all trees.
3. We need an independent urban forestry department, headed by a certified forester and supported by a public advisory committee.
4. We need an inventory of the trees in Guelph so we can evaluate the success of maintaining the health, diversity and canopy of the urban forest.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Town earns 18th Tree City USA Growth Award; Davie, FL; 4/15/09
Davie earns green growth award for tree-planting projects Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
But thanks to several landscape architects and one specialist, Davie last month pocketed its 18th Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Growth Award for its commitment to tree care and environmentally friendly projects.The impact of starting out weak but finishing strong with green public works projects isn't lost on Davie urban forester Tim Lee."We weren't using the 'right tree, right place' concept," Lee said. "But now, after two decades, we have such great knowledge of the town's native plants and it has earned us this prestigious award. It shows we protect and preserve our natural resources and particularly our tree canopy."
But thanks to several landscape architects and one specialist, Davie last month pocketed its 18th Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Growth Award for its commitment to tree care and environmentally friendly projects.The impact of starting out weak but finishing strong with green public works projects isn't lost on Davie urban forester Tim Lee."We weren't using the 'right tree, right place' concept," Lee said. "But now, after two decades, we have such great knowledge of the town's native plants and it has earned us this prestigious award. It shows we protect and preserve our natural resources and particularly our tree canopy."
Monday, March 30, 2009
City needs volunteers to identify UTC enhancement locations for help with energy, stormwater, and pollution; Arlington, TX; 3/28/09
Arlington needs you to help count its trees Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth,TX,USA
Increasing Arlington’s tree canopy could bring a different type of green to the city: more federal grant funding and savings to the taxpayers through energy cost reductions and storm-water mitigation.
The Parks and Recreation Department is about to launch a count of city-owned trees in parks, golf courses, medians and other public property. Volunteers and city forester Matt Churches will collect information about the species, health and location of each tree.
Increasing Arlington’s tree canopy could bring a different type of green to the city: more federal grant funding and savings to the taxpayers through energy cost reductions and storm-water mitigation.
The Parks and Recreation Department is about to launch a count of city-owned trees in parks, golf courses, medians and other public property. Volunteers and city forester Matt Churches will collect information about the species, health and location of each tree.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tree census effort stays in Vegas; Las Vegas, NV; 3/9/09
Arborists conduct citywide tree census KVBC - Las Vegas,NV,USA
Watkins is a master arborist. There are less than 250 of them in the country. He and his wife Mary are part of a team of tree specialists hired by Las Vegas for an ambitious, ecological project: cataloging and recording every tree in the city's urban forest.
"(It's a) tool for the city - being able to know what they have as far as species diversity, know what they have as far as the overall health and quality of the existing trees, and they can create a road map to increase their existing canopy cover," continues Watkins.
The reason for surveys like this is simple: You can't manage an urban forest until you know what you have.
Watkins is a master arborist. There are less than 250 of them in the country. He and his wife Mary are part of a team of tree specialists hired by Las Vegas for an ambitious, ecological project: cataloging and recording every tree in the city's urban forest.
"(It's a) tool for the city - being able to know what they have as far as species diversity, know what they have as far as the overall health and quality of the existing trees, and they can create a road map to increase their existing canopy cover," continues Watkins.
The reason for surveys like this is simple: You can't manage an urban forest until you know what you have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)