Course Description
This 1 day course will provide participants with a general overview of the mechanics of how to perform a tree inventory, data analysis basics, considerations before undertaking a tree inventory, the various types and goals of a tree inventory, and what to do with the data once it has been collected. What will NOT be discussed are specific software companies or vendors who perform this work, in order to avoid conflict of interest on behalf of the instructors.
Many times, those who require a tree inventory are lost in a sea of information and are not sure what exactly they need. Likewise, those seeking to perform rudimentary tree inventories may not be sure what data is important to collect, and how to collect it. This course seeks to clear these things up, so that tree managers have better understanding of the various data that can be collected during an inventory and how that data affects long term management, and practitioners can gain a better understanding of how their collection and analysis methodologies may impact project success.
Recommended Reading
ISA Best Management Practices – Tree Inventories, 2013
Provided Equipment
None
Day One
This 1-day class will be predominantly classroom based and will rely upon a combination of lecture and group exercises. We begin by introducing basic types of tree inventory, and when each type is appropriate. We then explore the various data that can be collected, such as species, DBH, maintenance, and others, and how the format of each data type affects the outcomes. For instance, do you want to collect species as Latin, common names, or both? Do you want to collection condition as a verbal description, or a number? We then explore general strategies of tree inventory, such as hiring a contractor, performing work in house, or using volunteers, and the pros and cons of each.
We then move into a general discussion of data overall, and the difference between qualitative and quantitative data, and how you use each to draw meaningful conclusions about your tree data collected in the field. We explore how to create charts, and common mistakes made with communicating data to the public. Finally, we finish by exploring how your data can be used to enhance your existing programs such as risk management, urban forestry management planning, and community outreach.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the participants should be able to evaluate trees effectively, and decide what strategy best suits them and their organization(s). Practitioners should also have a better feel for the options available to them, and when each option suits the particular assignment.
