| TOPIC AREA
Urban Environment and Transit INDICATOR: Tree
canopy - Percent of area covered by trees Why is this indicator important
in Baltimore City?
Tree canopy in an area, or percent
of the area covered by trees, is an indicator of the concentration of trees in
an area.
Trees and shrubs contribute to improved air quality by cooling
down temperatures, removing air pollutants and reducing volatile organic compounds
(VOC) that contribute to ozone.
What has been happening
in Baltimore City?
Roughly 1/3 of the city has over
20 percent tree coverage.
In Baltimore City, groups like the Parks
& People Foundation target their tree planting efforts with residents using
the tree canopy information. Since 2001, over 2,500 new and replacement trees
have been planted, concentrating on the areas that need them most.
Definition:
This indicator reflects the concentration of trees
coverage in an area.
Calculation considerations:
The indicator uses satellite imagery to understand the density of trees and tree
coverage in an area.
This measurement is conducted every few years.
Factors
that could influence tree canopy include: Neighborhood tree planting activities;
major storm damage (such as Hurricane Isabelle in 2003); and age of trees (Typically
younger trees are planted at first, and do not produce much tree coverage)
Data
source: Ikonos satellite image from Fred Irani of the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources
Analysis: Peter
Conrad, Baltimore City Department of Planning
Years
tracked: 2001
Geography: Citywide,
CSA, census tract
To access the Indicator: Download
Vital Signs 3 Activate
the interactive mapping system Obtain the
Vital Signs by census tract Download
Community Statistical Area profiles
For more information
about the Alliance and the Vital Signs, go to the website www.bnia.org.
To find out about your neighborhood, go to the
Vital Signs section.
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