Can't See the City for the Trees - Urban Forest Mapping

Well, not really. The truth is that the idea of urban amenities is nice, however without any way to quantify "real" value there is difficulty in finding proper funding. Street trees for example add quite a bit to the urban environment from both a psychological and environmental perspective, however they are often treated as simple decorative additions to an already over burdened pedestrian pathway. This ends up with trees crammed into tight and unhealthy spots, burdening growth and doing nothing to add to the health or image of a street. A dead or dying tree on an urban thorough-way is a rather sad sight.

For the urban and planner nerds out there that love mapping, what if there was a way to map tree locations and quantify their value? Danger, leading question...

The Urban Forest Map creates an online presence where "tree people" and mappers can collect data about urban tree locations in and around San Francisco. When I entered Cleveland, Ohio the map basically told me to go to hell.

However, when it isn't acting like a prissy snaffergargle the Urban Forest Map (I like the logo too) shows the impact that the selected tress are having in terms of monetary evaluations of Greenhouse Gas, Water, Energy and Air Quality Benefits.

The mapping is collaborative and open to users and pretty darn nifty for those of us that have room in our hearts for trees, Google and mapping things. The intent of the site is to collect data for "urban foresters and city planners in better managing trees, allowing them to track and combat tree pests and diseases, and also plan future tree plantings. Additionally climatologists will be able to use the information to better understand the effects of urban forests on climates, and students and scientists can use the site to learn about the role of trees in the urban ecosystem.".

Funded by a "grant awarded by the the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) funded by Proposition 84 they expanded the project and is now a collaboration of government, non-profits, businesses and individuals."

Pretty neato.