CENTRE WELLINGTON – For over 10 years Neighbourwoods summer staff and dozens of volunteers have collected data about Centre Wellington trees to better understand the state of the urban forest.
This summer Neighbourwoods has taken on a new project using a program called iTree.
iTree is a software product developed by the USDA Forest Service.
This program provides fascinating insights into the composition and ecological values of the township’s trees.
Based on the 10,102 trees inspected between 2009 and 2019, Neighbourwoods has generated a series of informative charts and graphs.
For example, the 10,000 plus trees in Fergus, Elora and Salem would cost $26 million to replace.
“Collectively they store 4,304 tons of carbon in their wood, produce 185.6 tons of oxygen every year, and intercept 282,000 square feet of water runoff – the equivalent of 225 Olympic sized swimming pools,” officials say.
“The takeaway? The urban forest is a tremendous asset – which underscores the importance of good tree care through mulching, watering and proper structural pruning.”
To learn more about the Centre Wellington’s trees, and how to help them, visit the Elora Environment Centre website at EloraEnvironmentCentre.ca.
“Neighbourwoods extends their sincere thanks to Canada Summer Jobs, the Township of Centre Wellington and to dozens of volunteers who have made this program possible by contributing their time and energy over the last decade,” officials say.
