Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, Goal Setting, and Implementation A Plan for Assistance

Background During 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

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 months

Targeted Electronic Communication

Urban tree canopy-specific information will be distributed via 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.