Boston, MA surveys city trees
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Posted by Georgene A. Bramlage Jul 24, 2006 |
The Greater Boston Urban Forestry Inventory (GBUFI) is led by Boston's Urban Forest Coalition, which includes the Urban Ecology Institute, Boston City Parks and Recreation Department, and Mapping Sustainability. The goal is to survey and catalog every tree on Boston's public streets by autumn, 2006.
Private donations fund the $15,000 project that began in 2003. So far volunteers have cataloged a total of 9300 street trees in these Boston neighborhoods :
- East Boston,
- Jamaica Plain,
- Roslindale, and
- the South End.
Here are names of predominant trees, based on percentage of those surveyed in the South End neighborhood:
- 17% - Littleleaf Linden
- 14% - Norway Maple
- 12% - Honey Locust
- 10% - Callery Pear
- 7% - London Planetree
- 6% - Green Ash
- 6% - Red Oak
- 5% - Red Maple
- 5% - Japanese Zelkova
- 4% - Gingko
- 14% - Other
The following factors are surveyed for each tree in the GBUFI:
- Species
- Building number
- Street
- Survey method, i.e., handheld or not
- Tree location with relation to building
- Sidewalk type, i.e. brick or otherwise
- Tree pit size
- Hardware, i.e., gates/grates/guards
- Wounds or cavities, yes or no
- Leaning, yes or no
- Sidewalk damage, yes or no
- Fungi, yes or no
- Utility wires, yes or no
- Canopy dead, i.e. amount
- Canopy missing, i.e. amount
- Comments of surveyor.
Satellite imaging and GBUFI data combined will help create a complete picture of Boston's "urban forest." These combined data will improve the Parks Department's ability to care effectively for Boston's urban forest. Other GBUFI supporters believe the data will help foster a strong connection between more healthy tree-filled green spaces, and healthy people in inviting neighborhoods.
Volunteer tree counters are needed. Check the Volunteer Solutions web site for specific information and a contact name and address.
If you like trees in your landscape you might enjoy reading all or any one of my previous articles about trees:
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Text by Georgene A. Bramlage, July 24, 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.