Urban forest structure and ecosystem services assessment in the Scotlandville Community for better planning and sustainable management

ommunity urban forests are vital resources and need to be protected by having a management plan that provides strategies for sustainable practices. To determine the baseline condition of Scotlandville Community's Urban Forest, the USDA Forest Service and its Partners' i-Tree Eco Model and its associated methodology was used to conduct a 170 plot stratified random sampling inventory and study. The objectives of this dissertation research were to: (1) utilize i-Tree model to access urban forest structure including species composition, number of trees, DBH distribution, tree density, tree health, leaf area, leaf and tree biomass, and species diversity; (2) estimate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal, carbon storage, energy savings and value; (3) explore the key indicators of a healthy and sustainable urban forest; (4) demonstrate the significance of trees and urban forest of the community while evaluating the importance of its sustainability; and (5) develop a recommended urban forestry management plan and best management practice strategies. The i-Tee Eco model results documented an estimated 239,000 trees with a canopy cover of 27%. The three most common species were Black Willow (16.9%), Water Oak (11.6%), and American Elm (11.9%). The health conditions were 92% excellent, 7% good, and 1% fair. The overall density of the urban forest is 31 trees per/acre. Trees that have diameters less than 6-inches constitute for 43.5% of the population. The i-Tree Eco Model valued Scotlandville's structural value at...