Quantifying Ecosystem Service and Values of the Urban Forest David J. Nowak USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Syracuse, NY, USA
Overview Ecosystem services Measuring services Top down Bottom up Telling the story New tools International limitations
Urban Tree Effects / Benefits Air quality improvement Water quality improvement UV radiation reduction Cooler air temperature Building energy conservation Greenhouse gas reduction Aesthetics Noise reduction Wildlife habitat Social / physiological benefits Human health
Measurement is Critical Structure Function Value
Develop Management Plans Current State Future State (better)
Help meet Environmental Regulations U.S. EPA Clean Air Act Incl. carbon Clean Water Act Australia - National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) National Environment Protection Measures Potential funding
www.itreetools.org
What is i-tree? A suite of tools to assess urban vegetation and their ecosystem services and values i-tree Eco = UFORE v. 3.0 programs
Public-Private Partnership USDA Forest Service Davey Tree Expert Co. National Arbor Day Foundation Society of Municipal Arborists International Society of Arboriculture Casey Trees
i-tree Use Distributed to over 90 countries
Assessing Urban Forests Top-down approach Aerial-based Bottom-up approach Ground-based
Top-down Approach Cover Data Landsat (30 m) Hi-resolution (~1 m) Photo-interpretation
Cover Maps
Photo Interpretation 14
PI Mapping 15
i-tree Canopy (v. 4.0)
You choose the cover classes
Classify random points
Melbourne results Tree Cover = 13.0% SE = 1.5% N = 500
Change Analysis 2007 2002
Tree Cover 60.0% Year 1 Year 2 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0%
Ground-based Approach: i-tree www.itreetools.org
Core Programs
The Foundation: Local Data Local Sample or Inventory Local information: Weather Pollution Environmental variables Hourly simulations
Assessing Urban Tree Populations i-tree Eco assesses: Structure Function Energy Air pollution Carbon VOC emissions Value Management needs Pest risk Tree health Exotic/invasive spp.
How is an assessment done? i-tree Step 1 Determine Study Area
i-tree Step 2 Determine if inventory or sample
i-tree Step 2a Determine Number of Plots Typically 200 1/10 acre plots
i-tree Step 3 Determine what data to collect Required core variables (spp, dbh) Optional variables Crown parameters Tree health Distance to buildings Shrub data Ground cover data
i-tree Step 4 Lay sample points Random Pattern Random Grid Pattern Stratified by LU
Random with no Stratification
Random with Stratification
i-tree Step 5 Set up project
i-tree Step 6 Train crews and collect field data
i-tree Step 7 Enter data and analyze
i-tree analyses
i-tree Step 8 Use data and reports to make a difference Automatic Report Generator
i-tree: Demonstrating That Trees Pay Us Back! Street Tree Benefits in Minneapolis: $6.8 million in energy savings $9.1 million in reduced storm water runoff $7.1 million increase in property value $1 million improvements to air quality
Making Change in Casper, WY Hired first Urban Forester Started Pilot UF Forestry Program Established benchmarks for program evaluation Implement program to diversify plantings Administrative support
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Informed Management Decisions EAB Structural Impacts: 17.4% Canopy Loss Milwaukee Ecosystem Assessment (2008) $221 Million structural damage (citywide) EAB Functional Impacts: $243,785 less pollutant removal $138,000 less energy savings (cooling costs) $2.6 million reduction in storm water benefits (1996 study)
Oakville Management Advances Integration of UF with air quality and climate protection initiatives By-laws to protect large stature trees on public & private property Justified expense for tree inventory & UF management plan Canopy goals & guidelines for developments Compelling message
Strategic Marketing & Promotion
Demonstrating Tree Value
Demonstrating Tree Value
Demonstrating Trees are Assets
Public Relations Campaign http://www.mortonarb.org/our-impact/tree-census.html
Current Model Version 3.0
Species Selection based on Ecosystem Services
v. 4.0 Improvement
Street Tree Storm Damage Estimates
Map and Project Cover and Ecosystem Services (NLCD data)
i-tree Version 4.0 (March 10, 2011) 5 New or Enhanced Tools Canopy Pest
i-tree-hydro Separate GIS program Calibrates against stream flow data
Links NCLD to Google Maps Allows for Corrections
Pest Pest Detection Protocol Collect Pest & Disease Signs Symptoms Reports Associated pest & diseases Trends/patterns
Regional Scale Local Scale i-tree 2 nd Generation (Version 5.0+) On-line Mapping tools Growth / Mortality / Influx rates Land / Tree Cover Landscape Change
Priority Planting Index
Temperature Mapping On-line Mapping tools Heat Island Baltimore, Maryland Growth / Mortality / Influx rates Land / Tree Cover - - Landscape Change Source: Heisler et al., USFS
On-line Mapping tools Heat Island Baltimore, Maryland Growth / Mortality / Influx rates Land / Tree Cover - - Landscape Change Source: Heisler et al., USFS
On-line Mapping tools Heat Island Baltimore, Maryland Growth / Mortality / Influx rates Land / Tree Cover - - Landscape Change Source: Heisler et al., USFS
Regional Scale Local Scale Pollution Distribution Conc. Vd Temp. Flux
International Analyses Model designed work for U.S. e.g., species information, pollution data Data from other counties can have issues Looking for international partners to help build international versions
Updating data bases Field Data Species Data New species botanical info, shading coeff., range, dec/evergreen, growth rate (S,M,F), height, life span (S,M,L) Location Data New city lat/long, elevation, time zone, leaf on/off dates, albedo and terrain factors Weather Data Pollution Data Hourly concentration in proper format
Updating program information Carbon Biomass formulas, growth rates Air Pollution VOC emissions Energy Will not work outside U.S. Valuation CTLA formula spp factors, base values Local carbon and pollution values ($/t)
Conclusion Urban forests and their benefits can be assessed i-tree can help Australian version of i-tree is being developed
Questions? dnowak@fs.fed.us nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban