ELORA – Beginning in June, volunteers will set out in Fergus and Elora to inspect the size and health of public trees.
Led by returning manager Jaimie McDonald, the information is collected using ArcGIS and uploaded to the town’s mapping system to help manage the community’s urban forest.
This information helps determine what trees should be planted for diversity and what areas should be included in the annual community pruning cycle.
After 13 summers, this is the final year for the inventory program.
“We are profoundly grateful to the many, many volunteers who generously gave their time to make the program possible,” said Neighbourwoods coordinator Toni Ellis.
Longtime summer staff member McDonald adds, “in addition to providing valuable data, volunteers have fun working in teams, and learn a lot about trees – how to identify them, measure them and what to look for to assess their overall health.”
The program evolved and improved over the years.
At the start in 2009 data was collected using paper maps and clipboard charts; by 2017, data was collected using ArcGIS on smartphones that could pinpoint a given tree’s location. Although introducing technology into the process improved accuracy and sped up data collection, the program remained fundamentally a human experience; teams working – and learning – together.
The program was made possible thanks to funding from Canada Summer Jobs and from additional support from the Township of Centre Wellington.
Thanks to volunteer Greg Wolowich, residents can check out 12,000+ inventoried trees at EloraEnvironmentCentre.ca.
