2010 Tree Census
Every tree counts toward a greener, healthier, more beautiful world! Do you have a gorgeous ginkgo? A majestic maple? Share your tree story to tell us why it's so special!
In fact, all trees living among us are important to our well-being. Urban trees give us many benefits—from cleaner air and cooler summer temperatures to sharper concentration and feelings of being safe.
Urban Forest
The trees surrounding us constitute the urban and community forest. The trees we value in our backyards or nearby parks belong to the urban forest. So do the often overlooked trees along railroad tracks or in parking lots.
The urban forest needs protection and nurturing so we can harness its many benefits. But first, we need to understand it.
Urban Forestry Assessment
To this end, The Morton Arboretum is conducting a Tree Census—or urban forestry assessment—in the seven-county Chicago region, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. The assessment has three phases (Check back for updates):
Phase I: Data Collection—completed summer 2010
Phase II: Analysis—completed spring 2011
Phase III: Results—expected spring 2013, Executive Summary
Results from the assessment will be used in many ways. It will help:
- Tell us what kinds of trees exist in the 4,000 square mile study area.
- Determine the scope, character, and condition of this urban forest.
- Measure and quantify the ecosystem services derived from the urban forest.
- Help us make decisions about where and what kinds of trees should be planted .
- Establish a baseline to measure future progress towards our mission.
- Ultimately, it will help increase the health and well-being of people living in the region.
For more information about the Tree Census, please contact Beth Corrigan at the Community Trees Program:
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or 630-725-2119.
