Best Practice Action 16.7
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Community Forests and Soils No. 16
Add city tree and plant cover that conserves topsoils and increases community health, wealth, quality of life.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 7
Conduct a tree inventory or canopy study for public and private trees.
- The i-Tree Tools are a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that helps communities of all sizes strengthen their urban forest management and advocacy efforts by quantifying the urban forest and the environmental, economic and quality of life services that it provides. I-Tree calculates tree canopy coverage percentages for most Minnesota cities, as does this map of city tree canopy coverage from 2013.
- Tree inventories and canopy studies can be conducted by:
- City staff and volunteers
- AmeriCorps programs such as Community Forestry Corps and GreenCorps
- Certified arborists and tree care consultants
- Nonprofits such as Tree Trust,
- Also, reach out to your county and Soil & Water Conservation District for assistance and possible funding support.
- See BPA 16.6 for volunteer and staff training/certifications.
- Hear from the Cities of Shorewood and Royalton on How did your city complete a tree inventory? (LMC, 2020)
- The International Society for Arboriculture has developed a series of Best Management Practices - Tree Risk Assessment to properly evaluate risks and recommend measures that achieve an acceptable level of risk (ISA, 2017). ISA also provides a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification program.
- The Vegetation Risk Management Plan (USDA, 2012) is developed as a tool to help increase public safety after a storm event, maintain optimum urban tree canopy, promote tree health, provide for effective emergency and arboricultural management, and decrease emergency management costs.
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Conduct a tree inventory or canopy study on public properties that is less than 10 years old. |
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Conduct a tree inventory that incorporates private property to better understand trees in the whole community; conduct a community-wide tree canopy study; conduct public property tree inventories every 5 years. |
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Implement 1- or 2-Star level and: have a qualified professional conduct a tree risk assessment to better prepare for storm and insect/disease damage; analyze a tree canopy study to assess equitable access to green space; evaluate and report on the financial and social benefits of public/private trees. Report Resiliency Hubs and Cooling Centers under BPA 29.1 and heat vulnerability assessments under BPA 29.6. |
Who's doing it
Edina -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
In April of 2021 the Ground Cover Survey and Carbon Sequestration Study was finalized, wherein a tree canopy study and the findings garnered from it were included in the Survey.
Additionally, also in 2021 the City of Edina completed their Climate Action Plan wherein the section concerning greenspace and trees, goals of increasing City Tree Cover from 35.9% to 39.5% by 2030 and up to 43% by 2040 are listed. This increase in tree cover will help provide critical climate adaptation services across Edina.
Additionally, also in 2021 the City of Edina completed their Climate Action Plan wherein the section concerning greenspace and trees, goals of increasing City Tree Cover from 35.9% to 39.5% by 2030 and up to 43% by 2040 are listed. This increase in tree cover will help provide critical climate adaptation services across Edina.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/edina-ground-cover-survey-and-sequestration-study/page/1
For more information contact:
Luther Overholt (City staff) | Loverholt@CI.Edina.MN.US | 952-826-0308
Partners:
Hackensack -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
A tree inventory was conducted in 2020 by the AmeriCorps Forestry member, which counted 18 different tree species currently in the City limits. The most common trees include Paper Birch, Maple (three varieties: silver, sugar, and amur), Norway Spruce, Quaking Aspen, Pine (Red and White), and Ash (Green and White). Increasing the species diversity would be a good strategy to prevent losing a significant portion of tree cover should a disease wipe out a specific variety.
An estimate of tree cover was conducted for the City in 2020 using the iTree online platform. This estimate showed:
• 30.2% tree coverage for the City, which translates to 197 acres of tree coverage.
• At 2 tons of CO2 equivalent sequestered per acre per year, [19] these City trees currently sequester 394
tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
• Additional benefits include removing nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter from
the air.
An estimate of tree cover was conducted for the City in 2020 using the iTree online platform. This estimate showed:
• 30.2% tree coverage for the City, which translates to 197 acres of tree coverage.
• At 2 tons of CO2 equivalent sequestered per acre per year, [19] these City trees currently sequester 394
tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
• Additional benefits include removing nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter from
the air.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Gary Dietrich (Community Volunteer) | garydietrich@icloud.com | 612-801-3345
Partners: Americorps - Forestry Corps
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1978
Implementation details:
The forestry department of Fond du Lac Resource Management inventories thousands of acres of forested land each year with the goal of ensuring that, of the 45,000+ acres of tribally owned land, no set of acreage goes more than 10 years without being inventoried. Inventories also include privately and federally owned land.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Anthony Mazzini (City Staff) | anthonymazzini@fdlrez.com | 2188787112
Partners:
Lake Crystal -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
The City hired a tree service to conduct a public/private tree inventory in 2022. We are in the process of adding our tree inventory to the city GIS mapping.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
We are continuing to monitor and protect our trees through the implementation of the EAB Plan, treatment, removal and the replacement of Ash trees.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=44.158901154787394%2C-93.88462271411969&z=15&mid=1sRQKDiw-dQhy4Q0wiuO1VGXqY4JLd6zi
For more information contact:
Angela Grafstrom (City staff) | agrafstrom@hallockmn.org | 218-843-2737
Partners: Crystal Waters Project, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School
Mendota Heights -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
A Tree Canopy Analysis was performed as part of the 2022 Natural Resources Management Plan and it can be found on page 51 of the attached plan.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://public.mendota-heights.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=320287&dbid=0&repo=MendotaHeights&&cr=1
For more information contact:
Courtney Selstad (City Staff) | cselstad@mendotaheightsmn.gov | 952-457-1735
Partners:
Mora -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
A canopy study was conducted in 2022 for the City of Mora, MN by a community volunteer using iTree and in consultation with Deanna Pomije, District Manager of the Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation District, and Tony Miller, Forestry Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Alison Holland (Community Volunteer) | alison.holland@me.com | 6123906357
Partners: Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation District and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
New Ulm -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2019
Implementation details:
New Ulm's tree survey began in 2017 with help from the Tree Advisory Commission and Park and Recreation Departments Green Corp member. The inventory included mailings to community members for voluntary tree self inventory submittals and Green Corp member extensive work. Over the
course of two years a full inventory of trees (9,000 +) was completed. The inventory consisted of tree species, type, crown width, health of tree (presence of decay-fungus - bird damage - etc.) and many other aspects.
course of two years a full inventory of trees (9,000 +) was completed. The inventory consisted of tree species, type, crown width, health of tree (presence of decay-fungus - bird damage - etc.) and many other aspects.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Derek Nelson (City Staff) | DerekN@newulmmn.gov | 507-233-2110
Partners:
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
In 2014 the city completed an inventory of all trees in city boulevards, parks and public buildings. This information continues to be used to determine areas for reforestation, coordinated tree planting and monitoring health of changing urban forests.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Tommy Schibilla (City staff) | tschibilla@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6455
Partners:
Detroit Lakes -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
We received an EAB grant for inventory of trees. This is in progress.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Bridget Penton (City Staff) | bpenton@cityofdetroitlakes.com | 218-846-7133
Partners:
Robbinsdale -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Robbinsdale's public tree inventory was professionally updated in 2020 and is available on the City website.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://logis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1f06053f1d1d4d669f09b67712f07af6
For more information contact:
Kayla Kirtz (City Staff) | kkirtz@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-233-5654
Partners: Hennepin County
Lauderdale -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2023
Implementation details:
In 2013, the City partnered with the MWMO to complete a tree inventory. The inventory was integrated into the City's GIS program in 2021. In 2023, the City shared a Forestry Corps Volunteer with the City of St. Anthony. The Volunteer updated the tree inventory. Staff have been maintaining it since.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Heather Butkowski (City staff) | heather.butkowski@ci.lauderdale.mn.us | 651-792-7657
Partners: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization; AmeriCorps
Greenstep Advisor
Rachel Morice, Urban and Community Forest Project Specialist, MN Department of Natural Resources: 651-296-6157, rachel.morice@state.mn.us, www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/urban