Measuring and analyzing urban tree cover

Abstract

Measurement of city tree cover can aid in urban vegetation planning, management, and research by revealing characteristics of vegetation across a city. Urban tree cover In the United States ranges from 0.4% in Lancaster, California, to 55% in Baton Rouge. Louisiana. Two important factors that affect the amount of urban @ee cover are the natuwt environment and land use. Urban tree cover Is highest in cities that developed in naturally forested mas (31%), followed by grassland cities (19%) and desert cities (lo%), but showed wide variation based on individual city characteristics, Tree cover ranged from 15 to 55% for cities in forested am. 5 to 398 for those in grassland areas, and 0.4 to 26% for cities developed in desert regions. Park and residential lands along with vacant lands in forested areas generally have the highest me cover among different land uses. Methcds of measuring urban me cover are presented as are planning and management implications of mecover data.