Wood River valley community Tree Inventory Pilot Project
Conducting a tree inventory in the Wood River Valley offers numerous benefits for both the community and the urban forest itself, including:
A comprehensive tree inventory allows city planners and residents to understand the urban canopy's diversity, health, and distribution, enabling more strategic maintenance and planting.
Trees contribute to improved air quality, reduced urban heat islands, and increased stormwater management, which directly benefit the well-being of city residents by providing cleaner air and cooler, greener spaces.
From a community perspective, an inventory helps raise awareness of the value of trees, fostering community pride and engagement in green initiatives. Additionally, having detailed data on urban trees allows for better planning to maximize ecosystem services, increase property values, and reduce energy costs through natural shading.
Overall, a tree inventory creates a foundation for sustainable urban forest management, enhancing both the ecological health of the forest and the quality of life for the city’s residents.
Members of the Hailey Tree Committee, dedicated partners in our urban forestry efforts, plant a new tree as part of their ongoing commitment to the community’s green spaces. Many of these volunteers are also participating in the tree inventory pilot project, helping us map and assess Hailey's urban canopy for a greener, healthier future!
10/31/24 update: Our trained tree inventory volunteers have been working hard and making great progress throughout Hailey inventorying urban trees in September and October! Since our September training, volunteers have updated or added 1,001 public trees into TreePlotter. Following our in-person volunteer training, our team was able to recruit 3 additional volunteers that have been trained, working alongside other volunteers, and contributing to the data collection in TreePlotter. As of October 31st, over half of our mapped areas in Hailey are either in progress or nearly complete. With the winter weather approaching, some of our volunteers have hung up their DBH tape for the season but a few of our experienced arborists are continuing for a few more weeks. The public can view the current tree inventory at any time by accessing the Idaho Tree Plotter Program (Zoom into City of Hailey).
