Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, Goal Setting, and Implementation

A Plan for Assistance

BackgroundDuring our NAASF UCF meeting in Traverse City, MI the

need for organized and consolidated information regarding urban tree canopy assessment and goal setting was discussed and identified

Background

• NA Forest Service agreed to take on this task.

• We have drafted a communication plan.

Goal for Our Session

• Present and discuss the Communication Plan

• Invigorate the “NA UTC Committee”

• Acquaint participants with new data developments

Communication Plan

Basic Information and Links

• NA Webpage dedicated to urban tree canopy and important links.

• Fact sheets coordinated with the video segments.

Video Segments and Annotated Slides

Develop and record a series of short (5 to 20 minute) videos/slides related to urban tree canopy assessment, goal setting and implementation

Videos Segments

“The Value of Urban Tree Canopy”Audience: Municipal Officials• Learning Objectives: When presented with the topic of

urban tree canopy value, municipal officials will be able to:– Identify the ways in which trees can help meet community

goals– Understand the requirements for creating and maintaining a

healthy and safe urban forest– Specify actions that they can take to improve their urban

forest

Videos Segments

“Urban Tree Canopy Estimates, Goals and Uses”Audience: Municipal Officials, General Public• Learning Objectives: When presented with the topic of

urban tree canopy estimates and future goals, municipal officials and the general public will be able to:– Discuss the concept of urban tree canopy estimates and goals

using correct terms and vocabulary– Identify the uses and benefits of urban tree canopy

information and be able to incorporate that with their knowledge of local issues, priorities and regulations

Videos Segments

“Urban Tree Canopy Technical Briefing” Audience: GIS Knowledgeable State and City Staffs, City

Foresters, Planners, Consultants• Learning Objectives: When given the task to outline, implement

and manage a municipal or regional urban tree canopy project, the technical specialists will be able to:– Identify and obtain appropriate GIS layers– Communicate with technical staff specific analysis and reports to be

generated– Use urban tree canopy estimates to set municipal urban tree canopy

goals for the future– Utilize reports and data to communicate urban tree canopy information

internally and externally with respect to their agency– Lay the foundation to implement an urban tree canopy goal

Videos Segments

“Outreach Methods to Spread the Word about UTC” Audience: State UCF Coordinators, City Foresters• Learning Objectives: When given the opportunity to

communicate with the general public and stakeholders, State Coordinators and City Foresters will be able to:– Use existing products to convey messages about urban tree

canopy estimates, goals and implementation

Videos Segments

“How to Work with Federal and State Regulatory Agencies to Address Air and Water Quality through UTC Estimates and Goals” Audience: State UCF

Coordinators• Learning Objectives: To

Be Determined

Case Studies

Case Studies• Audience: State UCF Coordinators, City Foresters, NGO’s and

other stakeholders• Learning objectives: When asked to discuss and give examples of

successful UTC projects, State Coordinators, City Foresters and others will be able to:– Name the location of the project and key participating organizations– Identify the primary objectives and outcomes of the project (why was

it started and what did it aim to achieve?)– Communicate the timeline and the funding sources used to complete

the project– Utilize information about both successes and difficulties encountered

to plan and implement UTC project of their own• Six case studies over 12-18 months

Targeted Electronic Communication

Targeted Electronic Communication

• Urban tree canopy-specific information will be distributed via email for 12 months and will include the following:– Primary information sources – links to UTC websites, UTC

blog– Distribution and announcement of finished Case Studies– News – lessons learned, upcoming presentations/webcasts,

new publications or tools• Social networking – determine value of investing time

in development of social networking site(s) such as LinkedIn.

New Data Developments

AmericaView

• Nationwide program • Satellite remote sensing data and technologies • Support of applied research, K-16 education,

workforce development, and technology transfer.

• University-led, state-based consortia. • Expand communication networks, facilities and

capabilities for acquiring and sharing remotely sensed data among AmericaView members.

LiDAR and NAIP

• Light Detecting and Ranging Technology (LiDAR) data adds a height element to the remotely sensed data and allows trees and other structures to be “seen” that might otherwise be hidden in shadow or other image anomaly.– LiDAR flown by USGS this year for Eastern

Seaboard.

NA UTC Committee Contact Anne or Jill if you’d like to participate.acumming@fs.fed.usJilljohnson@fs.fed.us