Tree Inventories:
In order to manage public trees (street trees, park trees, etc.) efficiently and strategically, we need to know some crucial information: how many trees there are planted on city property, what species they all are, where they are, and what condition they’re in. The most recent tree inventory was completed by volunteers in 2017, who recorded information & the GPS location for every single street tree in Providence. This data is now stored in a GIS platform that the Providence Forestry Division uses to plan & record their tree maintenance activities.
Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment:
Providence has twice contracted with the University of Vermont Spacial Analysis Lab to use statewide flyover imagery to analyze the city’s overall tree canopy — which includes not only city-owned trees, but all of the trees that make up our urban forest. This information helps us understand where our canopy is the most/least dense, where there is canopy growth and canopy loss, why it is occurring, and how to adjust our work to address canopy changes & inequitable canopy distribution across the city. Read more about tree equity & tree canopy distribution in Providence HERE.