the Ambler Public Tree Inventory
What is it…?
A tree inventory is the accurate collection of data on each of the trees that comprise a community’s forest. Tree inventories focus on the health of each tree and aim for greater diversity through future plantings.
An inventory can collect data on one or all of the following categories: public trees in parks, trees at other municipal properties, private trees, trees along streets and parking lots.
The data is collected and entered onto a map using a mobile phone GIS program. Data usually includes identification of species, the tree size (DBH*), assessment of its health and even a photo.
Why?
Having an inventory assists in planning for care for existing trees along with noting places where new trees can be planted to increase the overall canopy.
The inventory program we have chosen also quantifies the benefits each of the trees bring our lives!
*DBH: diameter at breast height. Normally four feet up on a tree and calculated using a DBH tape. This is the standard form of measurement to denote tree size.
In the Summer of 2020
On July 10 from 11 am – Noon we held a free online training session on how to use the mobile phone Tree Mapping software. We used open tree map.
Volunteers worked in pairs in a designated an area of the map.
data collection: DBH, Species, health and photograph
Reports were generated from this map on tree canopy percentage, cost benefits from trees, environmental benefits of trees as well as trees needing attention soon.
How do you inventory a tree?
There are three pieces of information that are the most important for an inventory:
DBH
diameter of the trunk at about chest level
Tree Species
If you struggle to determine this there are some great mobile apps that help including Picture This and iNaturalist.
Location
It is also very helpful to have a photograph of the tree as well as an assessment of its health.
The more information we can collect, the more we can learn about our urban forest as well as plan for the future!
“An inventory is also a preservation plan.”