Your Trees Count!

In neighborhoods around Seattle, trees are being counted and measured in an effort to better understand the health, age and extent of the city’s trees. The research is coordinated by the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, King County, City of Seattle, and University of Washington. Together these groups form the Green Cites Research Alliance.

When complete, this research will provide important information about the current conditions and environmental benefits provided by our urban trees. By measuring trees in over 200 randomly selected plots, researchers will be able to quantify how Seattle’s trees contribute to reducing pollution, storing carbon, reducing storm water and saving energy.

Data will be analyzed using the state-of-the-art i-Tree program. This analysis is critical to understanding the current and future management needs of our urban forest in order to develop sound management policies.

What are ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services are the environmental benefits provided by urban trees. These benefits include trapping and slowing rain water, energy conservation, carbon sequestration, heat island reduction, and improvements to air and water quality. Preserving ecosystem services in urban areas is critical to making cities healthy, desirable places to live and work.

How might I be involved in this research?
Because the plots can fall anywhere in the city, CLC is currently contacting residents for permission to access yards. The assessment crews will collect information on the number of trees in each plot, their species and size, as well as information on the type of ground cover (grass, pavement, etc.).The measurements do not harm the trees in any way and the crew makes every effort to leave no trace of their work. If you were contacted by CLC, please consider responding to help move this project forward. With single family residential property making up 56% of Seattle’s land base, it is important that residential property be included in this research.

What is i-Tree?
i-Tree is a U.S. Forest Service peer-reviewed software program developed by scientists over the past several years. i-Tree analyses have been completed in a number of major cities, including Minneapolis, MN; Washington D.C.; Houston, TX; and Pittsburgh, PA. i-Tree is also being used in a number of other countries around the world, such as Spain, Brazil, South Africa, China, India and Australia. Learn more about i-Tree's history here.

When will results be available?
Check back in the summer of 2012.