1. The Value of Your Urban Forest:
i-Tree Tools
Al Zelaya
The Davey Institute

2. How do we communicate the value of the resource at risk?
Evanston has over 4,000 ash trees on its parkways and in its parks, which is about 12% of the City of Evanston’s 33,000 public trees.
Emphasize that there are numerous opportunities but also we are under greater scrutiny. Bridge building is in, Tree planting is not. The need for justification is becoming more critical. Urban forestry projects in Virginia Beach have been linked with wasting money by the media million for UTC protection.
Coburn's amendment would prohibit spending on casinos, zoos, golf courses, swimming pools, parks, museums, theaters and highway beautification projects.
The amendment, approved
From the USCM Main Street Economic Recovery Plan:
“Today we are reporting that in 427 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country, a
total of 11,391 infrastructure projects are “ready to go.” These projects represent an
infrastructure investment of $73,163,299,303 that would be capable of producing an
estimated 847,641 jobs in 2009 and 2010.”

3. Evanston resource at risk to EAB
3500 ash street trees
10.5 % of public trees
$3.18 million structural value
4.9 million gal/yr of rainfall intercepted worth $135,000/yr
$122,000/yr energy savings
$20,350/yr in air quality improvement
$113,000 annual CO2 value
Evanston resource at risk to EAB
Emphasize that there are numerous opportunities but also we are under greater scrutiny. Bridge building is in, Tree planting is not. The need for justification is becoming more critical. Urban forestry projects in Virginia Beach have been linked with wasting money by the media million for UTC protection.
Coburn's amendment would prohibit spending on casinos, zoos, golf courses, swimming pools, parks, museums, theaters and highway beautification projects.
The amendment, approved
From the USCM Main Street Economic Recovery Plan:
“Today we are reporting that in 427 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country, a
total of 11,391 infrastructure projects are “ready to go.” These projects represent an
infrastructure investment of $73,163,299,303 that would be capable of producing an
estimated 847,641 jobs in 2009 and 2010.”

4. Can you justify your needs
Took about an hour to feed info from Evanston survey into i-Tree
Not hard to achieve, can take as little as an hour.
Must budget for outcomes

5. Increasing Public Scrutiny
Public transparency is becoming the norm and projects will be scrutinized.
Kudzu, a fast growing non native vine, was originally introduced into the Southern US from SE Asian as an erosion control measure. Bad move. The vine grows 12" or more a day in the Summer and can completely envelope mature trees within a few years time. They carpet the ground, grow up the trunk and choke the trees ability to gain sunlight, killing them. Kudzu climbs power poles – ultimately shorting them out, they will even grow across pavement. It's a prolific species.
A fully covered tree, or area of trees, looks green and healthy – out of site out of mind, but the towering "kudzu monsters" as my kids call them are really 60-to 90 feet, multi ton columns of now dead wood.
It's not a matter of IF they fall, but when, and they tend to clear a path on their way down. When the trees are near roadways or structures this can cause significant damage/expense/injury it can be serious hazard. A good sized oak will slice through a typical structure like a knife thru butter – all the way to the foundation, or down power lines, or cause unhappy results on roadways.
So the question is: What is the least expensive way to deal with this? Given the cost to fix things, and the potential for litigation – prevention would appear to cost less than dealing with the aftermath.
I say let the prisoners do it.

6. i-Tree Background August 2006 launch; 2 years ago.
i-Tree Cooperative was formed to deliver all Forest Service applications in a single software suite. 20+ yrs of FS research no available in usable form.
Research and tools, developed with public funds, and made widely available for public benefit.
DDSR, feedback from users drive updates & enhancements; V3.0 is now out.

7. i-Tree Includes… 2 Urban Forest Assessment Tools
3 Urban Forest Management Utilities
Assessment tools
i-Tree Eco, formerly UFORE

8. Inventory vs. Assessment Tools
Inventory good for tracking day-to-day

9. Inventory vs. Assessment Tools
Used to get $ for fighting invasives
Park ash trees at risk

10. Value of Resource at Risk
EAB Structural Impacts:
17.4% Canopy Loss
$221 Million structural damage (citywide)
Milwaukee Ecosystem Assessment (2008)
EAB Functional Impacts:
$243,785 less pollutant removal
$138,000 less energy savings (cooling costs)
$261,000 reduction in storm water benefits (1996 study)
The ability to use i-Tree data to make compelling arguments that are relevant to local issues as with the City of Milwaukee in not only justifying the structural impacts that are at risk but the loss of environmental service. They have chosen to chemically protect their trees from EAB and they have solid data to justify their decision.
Forest Structure
3.4 Million Trees
21.5% Canopy Cover
Estimated 587,000 ash trees (17.4%) 10

11. Benefits-Based Approach
Strategic Mgmt & Advocacy
i-Tree Tools
Comprehensive Value
Environmental Services
The common denominator that I will keep emphasizing is how the tools are used in strategic planning and decision making which ultimately leads to advancing policy initiatives. I would argue, given the state of the union and the world today, it is going to be essential for the urban & community forestry world to justify that what we all do…..matters! This diagram has been rearranged to show a progression toward strategic management emphasizing the difference between tradition inventory tools which limit you to a lower level of understanding. i-tree assessment tools (Environmental Services) will allow you to progress to a higher level of understanding and influence.
Structure

12. i-Tree Eco Overview (UFORE)
There is true power in having compelling data that you can present to decision makers. Keith mentioned that Minneapolis was able to increase their budget fairly substantially.
(UFORE)

13. Assessing Urban Ecosystems
i-Tree Eco assesses:
Structure
Function
Energy
Air pollution
Carbon
Value
Management
Health
Pest impacts
Typically sample driven, non-standard intensive field data.
/10th acre plots
Barcelona, Spain

14. Eco Foundation: Local Data
Sample or Inventory
Local information:
Weather
Pollution
Environmental variables
Hourly simulations
Usable on a number of scales, from household to state-wide
Used on various schools in a system
Uses local information

15. Using i-Tree Eco
Step 1 - Determine Study Area

16. Step 2 - Determine What Data to Collect
Using i-Tree Eco
Step 2 - Determine What Data to Collect
Sample or inventory?
Required core variables (spp, dbh)
Crown parameters
Tree health (dieback)
% Canopy Missing
Crown Light Exposure
Optional variables
Distance to buildings
Shrub data
Ground cover data
Tree = any woody vegetation, except vine, with a DBH ≥ 1 in

17. Using i-Tree Eco Step 3a– Determine number of plots
Typically 200 1/10 acre plots

18. Using i-Tree Eco Step 3b– Lay Sample Points Random Grid Pattern
Stratified by LU
Random Pattern

19. Using i-Tree Eco
Step 4 – Set Up Project

20. Using i-Tree Eco
Step 5– Train Crews / Collect Field Data / QA-QC

21. Using i-Tree Eco
Step 6– Enter Data and Submit to F.S.

22. Automatic Report Generator

23. Potential Pest Impacts Report

24. i-Tree Eco Helps You: Quantify ecosystem services and values
Determine magnitude and distribution of resource
Improve planning and management
Empower advocacy
Link with environmental regulations
Monitor change

25. i-Tree Streets Overview
There is true power in having compelling data that you can present to decision makers. Keith mentioned that Minneapolis was able to increase their budget fairly substantially.
(STRATUM)

26. Assessing Street Tree Populations
Streets assesses:
Function
Energy
Air pollution
Structure
Stormwater
Carbon
Property Value
Value
Management needs
Pest Detection Module (Beta)
Background information on STREETS- advantages & disadvantages between UFORE.

27. Streets Foundation: Reference City Research
Regional Tree Guide studies to develop growth models of representative street trees and their dimensions as a basis for Benefit-Cost Analysis.
This is your resource for methods

28. Reference City Research
Info for better tree mgt
Can use existing inventory
Full inventory can take a couple days to input

29. i-Tree Streets: Information for Better Tree Management
Input:
Sample street segment inventory (3-6%)
Or import an existing inventory
Price adjustments, mgmt. costs
Output:
Graphs, charts, tables
Benefit:
Baseline data to more effectively manage & advocate for the street tree resource
Allows managers to evaluate current benefits, costs, and management needs.

30. $2.94 in benefits for every $1 spent
Almost $3 dollars of benefits for every dollar spent on Pittsburgh’s Municipal Forestry program.

31. Using i-Tree Streets
Discuss the i-Tree Manual- What it was and how it follows a more logical progression of completing a project.

32. Phase I: Getting Started
Existing inventory?
Conduct inventory?
Study area
Inventory type
Sample or complete
Data collection
PDA, paper or other
Project parameters
Data fields (Species & DBH)
Other inputs: benefit prices, city data
The first phase is all about planning and decision making.

33. Phase II: Project Establishment
Configure project inputs:
City Info
Annual Costs
Benefit prices
Data fields
Species
Set-up PDA

34. Phase III: Out in the Field
Locate trees or sample segments
Data collection
PDA or Paper forms
Data definitions
QA/QC
Use MSP zone map

35. Phase IV: Running i-Tree
Upload or manual data entry
Import existing inventories
Error checking
Rechecking data
in the field
Reporting results
Exporting results

36. I-PED Pest Detection Module (beta)
Standard protocol for pest & disease recording
Portable
Future integration with data repository
Use MSP zone map

37. Streets Helps You: Justify and leverage funds
Quantify Street tree benefit values
Empower Advocacy
Plan, prioritize, and budget
Benchmark progress
You need to understand what you want before embarking on a project, streets can help you do many things. It may be all or one of these things.

38. Linking Trees to Community Values
EAB Functional Impacts
$243,785 less pollutant removal
$138,000 less energy savings (cooling costs)
$261,000 reduction in storm water benefits (1996 study)
EAB Structural Impacts
17.4% Canopy Loss
$221 Million structural damage (citywide)
The ability to use i-Tree data to make compelling arguments that are relevant to local issues as with the City of Milwaukee in not only justifying the structural impacts that are at risk but the loss of environmental service. They have chosen to chemically protect their trees from EAB and they have solid data to justify their decision.
Milwaukee Hours 
1,064 man-hours for data collection
$30, for salaries and fringe benefits. 
PDA's (3), I think at about $500 each.  (confirming with Ian)
The grant for the billboards was for $25,000, so we just slightly exceeded our minimum in-kind match. 
Truly a win-win project for the city and i-tree.   
David B. Sivyer
Forestry Services Manager
Zeidler Municipal Building
841 N Broadway, Room 619
City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
p. (414)
f. (414)

39. www.itreetools.org for more information al.zelaya@davey.com
Using i-Tree Results to Advance Your Program