i-Tree Eco Project
What is i-Tree Eco?
i-Tree Eco is state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The program provides affordable, easy-to-use tools communities can use to collect and analyze information on their urban forests. i-Tree Eco helps strengthen management and advocacy efforts by quantifying the structure of community trees and the environmental services trees provide.
What does i-Tree Eco do?
i-Tree Eco is a tool that allows users to collect data on the entire urban forest and estimate the ecosystem services that the resource provides to the community. Learn more >
While it is understood that trees provide numerous community benefits, quantifying them often proves challenging. The Kansas City regional i-Tree program will help identify these advantages by analyzing data such as:
- effects of trees on energy usage
- air quality improvements from trees
- carbon sequestration
- rainfall interception
- potential impact of destructive pests
This information will help give our community a better understanding of trees’ value and build support for tree programs and the cost-effective services they offer.
About the Kansas City regional i-Tree project
In fall 2010, a sample inventory was conducted for 340 plot locations across the Kansas City region. The randomly selected plots are 1/10 acre in size and consist of private- and public-owned trees within the nine-county region. Project staff recorded information on species, condition, tree height, trunk diameter, and canopy density, among other criteria. Inventory data is currently being analyzed and final results will be available in early 2011. The information collected will help guide regional planning.
i-Tree Eco project partners include the USDA Forest Service, the Kansas Forest Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Mid-America Regional Council and Davey Resource Group.
For more information on i-Tree programs, visit itreetools.org.
Contact:
Tom Jacobs, Evironmental Programs Manager
tjacobs@marc.org or 816-701-8352