ONLINE MAPS SHOW TREE BENEFITS & BEST AREAS TO PLANT NEW TREES

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced the results of a Neighborhood Tree Survey Pilot Project in three New York City neighborhoods, finding that just 322 trees in these communities were worth more than $1 million, and neighborhood trees in these areas removed more than $800,000 worth of pollution annually.

The survey was undertaken by several community and research organizations using an innovative online mapping system. These groups trained 29 Citizen Pruners to use maps, aerial photos, and data from the Open Accessible Space Information System to collect detailed information on 322 trees in Hunts Point (Bronx), Lower East Side (Manhattan), and New Brighton (Staten Island).

The results were analyzed by the Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station and SUNY’s School of Environmental Science and Forestry. The researchers found that the 322 trees had a combined replacement value of $1,038,458. On average, the trees were valued at more than $3,000 each ($3,225). The 322 surveyed trees were also found to remove and store more than 200 metric tons of carbon, and remove more than 500 pounds of pollutants each year.

This partnership between commercial interests, academia, nonprofit organizations, city, state and federal government has demonstrated how trees improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and help build community spirit, said Forest Service Northeastern Area Director, Kathryn Maloney. A more in-depth analysis by the Forest Service and SUNY revealed that all the trees in Bronx Community Boards 1 through 4, Manhattan Boards 1 through 6, and Staten Island’s Board 1 removed 143 tons of pollution annually, valued at $814,000. Our survey results show that it’s important to invest in neighborhood trees and to preserve and protect our urban forest, emphasized Lenny Librizzi, Council on the Environment of New York City project manager, one of the Neighborhood Tree Survey partners.

Neighborhood tree survey results Congressman José E. Serrano (D-Bronx) added, We are encouraged that the South Bronx neighborhood survey confirms what we’ve known intuitively all along, that trees are vital contributors to the long-term health and well being of our urban communities. Representative Serrano has been an ongoing supporter of Forest Service projects to assist urban neighborhoods.

Volunteers such as Citizen Pruners are invaluable to protecting, preserving, and maintaining our precious street trees, said Mat Cahill, assistant director of urban forestry for Trees New York. Through this project we are finally able to put numeric value on their work in the urban forest. The Pruners used printed surveys and maps, plus new handheld computer mapping software programmed and donated by ESRI, the leading computer mapping software company, to collect the tree data. The use of handheld mapping software enabled the surveyed trees to be pinpointed on interactive, online maps available at the OASIS website. This mapping site provides interactive access to New York’s green infrastructure, from community gardens to wetlands to parks to beaches and waterfronts – and now including street trees.

David Nowak, project leader for the Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station and lead analyst for the Neighborhood Tree Survey project, emphasized that the data produced for this project can be used to help improve urban tree cover and health in New York City. Many Pruners expressed an interest to continue this work. Trees are important to any environment. In the city they take on even greater significance.

This project hopefully will help people understand the importance of trees in our lives, their beauty, and even their history. I am really happy to be part of it, noted Dave Murphy, a public school teacher who helped survey trees on Staten Island. The Neighborhood Tree Survey participants are now working with the city’s Parks Department to launch a Community Forestry Working Group so that other organizations can undertake similar initiatives on a citywide basis and beyond. For more information, on the latest GPS News see gps software.

Author Notes:

Garry Wilk contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.handheld-gps-reviews.com.  A wealth of information about Global Positioning Systems for commercial or personal use.