The PlanIT Geo™ Geospatial Mapping Services team is passionate about the importance of a quality urban tree canopy assessment.

In this blog series, you will learn more about the process, why you need one, and how an urban tree canopy assessment will benefit your community.

Part 1: Why Do Trees Matter?

Trees are the answer! Across cities and other urbanized areas, trees along streets, in parks, yards, and natural areas constitute a valuable urban and community forest. This resource is a critical element of the region’s green infrastructure, contributing to environmental quality, public health, water supply, the local economy, and aesthetics.

Trees throughout the world face many threats, but trees in an urban environment are especially vulnerable. Clear-cutting, compacted soils, and vandalism are just a few of the many threats these trees face. This valuable resource is under attack from many different directions in communities, small and large, across the globe. The following maps and images show examples of large-scale changes that can occur in an urban forest.

Trees are one of the few infrastructure investments that grow in value over time.

Land Development

Charlotte, North Carolina, in the southeastern United States, is a rapidly growing city. With high rates of growth often comes a high level of development. Large, forested areas are quickly being cleared to make way for new housing developments, schools, and other amenities. Fortunately, the City has been planting new trees to make up for the losses, but those trees take time to grow and mature. The left image shows conditions in 2014, and the right image shows the same area in 2020 after a new school has been built where a forest once stood.

Severe Storms

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Trees throughout the world face many threats, but trees in an urban environment are especially vulnerable.

Pests and Diseases

Invasive species, pests, and disease present one of the most serious threats to urban and community forests. The City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin experienced a significant loss of urban tree canopy due to Dutch elm disease. This led to the removal of over 140,000 elms from the late 1950s to the present time. This image shows the dramatic change that occurred in many areas throughout the city. Once fully canopy-covered streets became open and exposed corridors due to monoculture planting and the subsequent disease outbreak.

Tree Planting

This blog series will continue to explore the necessity of urban tree canopy assessments and how one will positively impact your community. Please join us over the next month as we continue to share this valuable topic.

Blog Series: Urban Tree Canopy Assessments

Part 1: Why Do Trees Matter?

Part 2: The Benefits of Trees

Part 3: What Is An Urban Tree Canopy Assessment?

Part 4: What Will I Get Out Of An Urban Tree Canopy Assessment?

View our interactive Urban Tree Canopy Assessments Story Map and learn how our Geospatial Mapping Services team can support your community forestry goals.