There are computerized applications for just about everything – from tracking our finances to planting a vegetable garden. So it should come as no surprise that there are even apps that aid in the conservation, management, and understanding of urban forests.
Trees provide real environmental and health benefits. In addition to boosting property values, they cool the environment, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, minimize storm water runoff, and bring mood-boosting flowers and birds into the lives of city residents.
The USDA Forest Service created a suite of six computer applications called iTree to help communities manage and advocate for their urban forests. Based on years of research and development, the tools help quantify the services that trees provide.
For instance, i-Tree Streets assigns a dollar value to the environmental and aesthetic benefits of publicly-owned street trees. i-Tree Hydro offers ways of improving water quality and reducing flooding. And i-Tree Design can evaluate the benefits of a single tree, from its greenhouse gas mitigation to its effects on the energy usage of nearby buildings.
iTree offers an unprecedented level of information on urban forests and is accessible to everyone from government officials and urban planners to homeowners who want to evaluate the best placement of a new backyard tree.
Since its inception in 2006, iTree has been downloaded by thousands of users in 118 countries. Hopefully, its growing use will transform the way we value and manage our urban forests. You can download a free copy of the software, which was upgraded this year, at itreetools.org.
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Photo, posted May 9, 2013, courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio, with script contribution from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.