Importance of Urban Trees
The Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD) received a Communities Caring for Tree Canopy Grant from the Vermont Department of Forest Parks and Recreation in 2014 and 2015. WNRCD, in collaboration with the City of Winooski and the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative (VMC) has conducted a two-year urban canopy inventory to quantify ecosystem services provided by urban trees in the City of Winooski.
Students from the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of the Environment used a forest inventory method called i-Tree developed by the US Forest Service that is used in urban areas across the country. The students collected tree metrics on 63 randomly selected plots throughout the City of Winooski. The data has been analyzed and the results will be available in report form to provide information to the City of Winooski and community members about the important ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and stormwater absorption provided by urban trees.
WNRCD staff is currently working with the City of Winooski to engage citizens in the development of a citizen-run Tree Board. The Tree Board members will use the results of the study to plan future tree plantings to maximize ecosystem services, develop a tree management plan, and perform maintenance on local trees.
To learn more about the importance of urban trees and participating in a Tree Board, please visit: www.winooskinrcd.org
