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 was analyzed in 2011; a summary of the findings include:
The Greater Kansas City Regional Forest Summary (Trees)
Feature |
Measure |
Number of trees |
249,450,000 |
Tree and shrub canopy cover |
28.3% |
Tree canopy cover |
18.6% |
Most common species |
American elm, Northern hackberry, Osage orange, honeylocust, Eastern red cedar |
Percentage of trees < 6-inches diameter |
71.0% |
Pollution removal – trees |
25,940 tons*/year ($198 million/year) |
Ozone |
15,850 tons/year ($142million/year) |
Particulate matter |
6,030 tons/year ($36 million/year) |
Sulfur dioxide |
2,260 tons/year ($5.0 million/year) |
Nitrogen dioxide |
1,610 tons/year ($14.4 million/year) |
Carbon monoxide |
200 tons/year ($257,000/year) |
Carbon storage |
19.9 million tons ($411 million) |
Carbon sequestration |
1.0 million tons/year ($20.7 million/year) |
Building energy reduction |
$14.0 million / year |
Reduced carbon emissions |
$500,800 / year |
Structural value |
$93.4 billion |
*Ton – short ton (U.S.) (2,000 lbs) |
|
The information collected from the i-Tree Eco study will help guide local forestry planning efforts. A regional forestry policy, planning and management framework will be developed in 2012.
Download an overview of study findings, the benefits of Kansas City’s urban forest and the project’s work plan: Greater Kansas City Urban Forestry Fact Sheet (PDF).
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.
Contact:
Lesley Rigney |
Tom Jacobs, Environmental Programs Manager |