ChicagoRTI.org
Integrating regional and community data into on-the-ground urban forest management
ChicagoRTI.org
Chicago’s urban forest
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Number of trees 157,142,000
Canopy cover (trees and shrubs) 21%
Most dominant trees by stem count
European buckthorn, green ash, boxelder, black cherry, American elm
Carbon storage 16.9 million tons ($349 million)
Pollution removal 24,170 tons/year ($183 million annually)
Compensatory value $51.2 billion
Chicago Region
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9.9 million people157,000,000 trees7 counties284 municipalities~ 75 park districts7 forest preserve districts70% of trees on private
property
We need more information and we need it at the community scale
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Chicago Region Trees Initiative
CRTI Data
ChicagoRTI.org
Urban forestry data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
In a period of rapid data expansionMany cities have:
• Land cover
• Inventories
• Surface temperature
• Socioeconomic, traffic or other related data
ChicagoRTI.org
Urban forestry data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Which data has CRTI utilizedHow did we collect itWhat did we learn from it
ChicagoRTI.org
Urban forestry data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
But how do you turn these data into action?
ChicagoRTI.org
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
CRTI Data Collection
ChicagoRTI.org
CRTI goals
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Healthy, more resilient urban forestProvides ecosystem servicesProvides habitat for wildlife
ChicagoRTI.org
CRTI goals
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Healthy, more resilient urban forestProvides ecosystem servicesProvides habitat for wildlife
ChicagoRTI.org
CRTI goals
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Healthy, more resilient urban forestProvides ecosystem servicesProvides habitat for wildlife
ChicagoRTI.org
CRTI goals
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Healthy, more resilient urban forestProvides ecosystem servicesProvides habitat for wildlife
ChicagoRTI.org
ChicagoRTI.org
Our Trees
CRTI forest data
ChicagoRTI.org
Remotely sourced imageryOn the ground inventories
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Remotely sourced data
ChicagoRTI.org
Land cover mapping
Chicago Region Trees Initiative ChicagoRTI.org
Land cover mapping
Chicago regionCook
DuPageKane
KendallLake
McHenry Will0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Land cover by county
Other paved
Roads/rail
Buildings
Water
Bare soil
Vegetation
Tree canopy
County
Perc
ent l
and
cove
r
Remotely sourced data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Where we have/don't have treesWhere is there room for growth
By location By land use
ChicagoRTI.org
Remotely sourced data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
What kind of trees?Are they healthy?How do we make the forest more
resilient?
ChicagoRTI.org
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
On the ground data
ChicagoRTI.org
Tree inventory data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
CRTI works on a regional scaleAcross all land use typesSo much data
ChicagoRTI.org
Tree inventory data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
UFORE/i-Tree dataStreet tree inventoriesPark district dataNatural areas dataUniversitiesNGO inventoriesPrivate properties
ChicagoRTI.org
Tree inventory data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Data standardized
• Names
• Health rankings
• Geographic systems...Entered into geodatabaseCurrently have information on ~800,000
trees!ChicagoRTI.org
Genus Percent Abundance Average DBH (in)Acer 29.56% 12.71
Fraxinus 14.58% 12.44
Gleditsia 10.46% 12.78
Tilia 6.73% 10.70
Quercus 6.46% 12.26
Ulmus 5.36% 14.40
Pyrus 3.41% 7.61
Malus 2.97% 7.66
Celtis 2.42% 10.76
Picea 2.10% 9.80
Municipal plantings
Private propertyGenus Percent Abundance Average DBH (in)Rhamnus 24.43% 2.58
Acer 17.46% 14.41
Picea 6.98% 9.91
Ulmus 5.24% 11.65
Quercus 4.72% 19.74
Fraxinus 4.10% 13.23
Malus 3.73% 7.75
Pinus 3.73% 9.50
Thuja 2.99% 4.81
Morus 2.89% 9.60
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Our Communities
ChicagoRTI.org
Community forestry survey
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Survey sections• Administrative and program profile
• Emerald ash borer
• Other tree disorders
• Tree planting
• Tree maintenance
• Tree removal
ChicagoRTI.org
What resource do you need to improve your forestry program?
Other community data
ChicagoRTI.org
Census
• Income, education,
minority populations
Ecosystem mapping
• Prairies, woodlands, wetlands
Flood maps
Surface temperature
Canopy
Temperature
Vulnerable populations
Impervious surfaces
Combining data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Data is measured in different unitsNeed to standardize data
• Use z-scores
ChicagoRTI.org
Z = (Value - average value)
standard deviation
Priority municipalities
Low canopyHigh impervious
surfacesHigh vulnerable
populationsHigh surface
temperature
Priority plantings
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Layers vary by stakeholder and areaNeed to communicate with stakeholders
to make priority maps that are relevant
ChicagoRTI.org
How can we use this data?
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Define our workPrioritize actionWe can make goals to shape our future
ChicagoRTI.org
Regional Goals – Local Implementation
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Meet with a variety of stakeholders – public and private• Municipalities
• County planners
• Businesses
• NGOs
• Utilities
• Residents
• Professionals
• Forest preservesChicagoRTI.org
Priority municipality – Franklin Park
Franklin Park
Village of Franklin Park• 18,333 population• 477 square miles• $55,000 median income• 12% of population below poverty level• 18.9% younger than 18• 7.2% older than 65
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Engagement
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Meet with elected officialsMeet with forestry staffMeet with volunteers or interested
residents
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Chicago Region Trees Initiative ChicagoRTI.org
Present the Data
Chicago Region Trees Initiative ChicagoRTI.org
Management plan
Arborist on staff?
Inventory
Franklin Park
Genus Percent abundanceMaples 42.7%Ash 19.2%Honeylocust 12.0%
Franklin Park
0 to 56 to 10
11 to 1516 to 20
21 to 2526 to 30
31 to 3536 to 40
41 or more
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
Tree size distribution
Size class
Freq
uenc
y
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Where Trees Are Needed
ChicagoRTI.org
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Expanded Diversity & Contract Growing
ChicagoRTI.org
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Urban Forest Management Plan
ChicagoRTI.org
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Tree Preservation Ordinances
Bronze
Silver
Gold
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Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Stewardship Program
ChicagoRTI.org
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Urban Forestry Basic Training
ChicagoRTI.org
Identify needs and where THEY are ready to start
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Community Tree Network
ChicagoRTI.org
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Lydia Scott, Director Lindsay Darling, Data [email protected] [email protected]
ChicagoRTI.org