New tree planting, whether to increase canopy cover or to replace trees that need to be removed, is an important management activity to ensure sustainability (and growth) in the urban forest. With changes in climate,  periodic drought, and water restrictions,  it is more important than ever to make sure we plant the right tree in the right place. One of the first steps in this process is determining where to invest in new tree planting projects. 

As a part of the development process for the UFMP, a GIS-based tree canopy and land cover assessment mapped the location and extent of existing tree canopy in Davis and identified other areas where new trees and canopy might be added. The assessment identified 1,377 acres where there is potential for planting additional trees. Prioritizing these potentially plantable areas can help ensure that new tree planting projects are strategically planned to provide the best return on investment. To aid in this process, the GIS assessment developed an overlying matrix of options for prioritizing a single or multiple set of concerns, including: 

TreeKeeper® Canopy, an interactive GIS interface tool, allows forestry managers and tree planting partners to identify the ideal location for new trees based on highest priorities.   

TreeKeeper Canopy

TreeKeeper Canopy is a public-facing website that can be explored by community members who want to better understand canopy trends as they relate to different land cover and socioeconomic factors. This tool provides an interactive interface for the Urban Forestry Division to explore the urban forest canopy data (public and private) to make data-driven decisions on tree planting and maintenance that have the most return on investment. Future tree planting programming and outreach and education efforts can be prioritized in identified areas to improve the equitable distribution of tree canopy. This tool allows users to:

• Quickly observe data from canopy assessments
• Prioritize and plan tree plantings using environmental and social equity data
• Create custom tree canopy goals and projections
• Share the benefits of the urban forest and promote the value of the urban forest

Resources for tree planting are often limited. Using planting priorities to identify planting locations can help maximize available resources, guide strategic planting to achieve specific objectives, and meet community needs. TreeKeeper Canopy’s “Prioritize” tool can be used to explore geographic areas of interest throughout Davis where trees could potentially be planted on both public and private property. Planting can be prioritized and weighted by vulnerability parameters for social and environmental criteria. Depending on planting objectives, the areas recommended for priority planting will shift. For instance, the planting areas that have the highest planting priority to address stormwater runoff may not be the same areas for higher priority planting to address surface temperatures. 

TreeKeeper Canopy’s “Plant” tool can estimate tree planting and maintenance costs, which consider the size of trees planted and mortality rates. The City or interested community members and/or groups can develop tree planting plans that include canopy goals, projections for the number of trees to be planted over a period of time, and estimated planting and maintenance costs. While planting plans do not guarantee that funding will be available to support larger planting efforts, they can serve as a tool to advocate for funds to accomplish planting objectives. Additionally, if funding sources do become available, planting plans can help allocate those funds appropriately to meet community needs. For example, if funding for stormwater mitigation were to become available, the Urban Forestry Manager could use TreeKeeper Canopy to identify planting sites that would provide the greatest benefit to reducing stormwater runoff.

Back to Top