Urban Forestry Division Grows Tree Inventory Data With BU Students

The Urban Forestry Division is looking to expand its current street tree inventory data to Boston’s over 300 parks. Assisting in this effort are students enrolled in the Boston University class, Environmental Equality and Urban Tree Canopies, taught by professors Sal Genovese and Joelle Renstrom. Five of the class’ students are collecting data in the field and as a final project they will do analysis of the tree canopy coverage and benefits in various parks as compared to the surrounding neighborhoods.

This expansion of data collection is being done to assist in the implementation of the Urban Forest Plan (UFP). During the formulation of the UFP, detailed information was collected on the over 40,000 trees along city streets. The data now being collected on trees in Boston’s parks will be useful to UFP strategies such as proactively protecting and caring for existing trees.

Interested in learning what trees are on your street or in the parks nearest you? Feel free to explore Boston’s Tree Inventory!

Pictured below are some of the students collecting data at Ross Playground in Hyde Park.